The Allergy Shot

Some of my better friends know that I have allergies, and get allergy shots regularly every two weeks. I figured it prudent to continue the shots here in CA, just in case. (Secretly, I was hoping my allergy symptoms would disappear in California, but that hasn't happened.) Luckily, there is a medical clinic just a five minute walk from ATA, so I scheduled an appointment during my lunch hour. That way I wouldn't have to do make up time, I figured. Besides, how long could an allergy shot take?

Quite a while, as it turned out! I'd forgotten to consider the tremendous paperwork required the first time you go to a new doctor. I filled out form after form, signing this and that, and spent quite a while chatting with the lady behind the front desk while I was at it.

"Responsible Person... is that me or my dad?"
"Either one really, it doesn't matter there."
"Patient Address. Um... I forget the apartment's address exactly."
"Oh put Ohio for that one, honey! It's used for billing."
"Responsible Person [different form]. Doesn't matter again I guess?"
"No, it matters this time. Better put your dad there."

At that point I was called in to the allergist, and told I could finish the paperwork before I left. The allergist was a really nice guy, and when I told him I was working at ATA, he smiled. "Good! So you do you know George?" he asked.
Thrown off-guard, I replied, "Um, not yet, I guess."
"Ah, well George works there I think. He's a good friend of mine. Here, I'll write his name down so you don't forget. Tell him I said to take good care of ya!"
Hmm, that'll be an interesting conversation starter, I thought. "Hey! You and I have the same allergist, you know that?" It'll be hard to pull that one off without seeming creepy.

Back in the waiting room, I struggled to finish the paperwork for the lady behind the desk:

"Employer Address. Dang, I don't have that one either on me. Can I call them really quick?"
"Oh just skip that, it doesn't matter."
"Wait, so which ones of these matter?"
"Just the first two."
"So how much of this do I really have to fill out?"
"Oh, I think it's good now, you can just hand it to me."

I'm not sure whether she was serious of just wanted me gone, but I didn't mind because the appointment had already taken over an hour. The lady behind the front desk was from Cincinnati, by the way. Lived there for 20 years before moving back to San Diego where she was born.