Glasses

It's just a matter of time before we need them.  I'm always amazed at The Kid when he picks up something and just reads it.  I can't remember being able to do that.  Big Jim (who doesn't read this anymore) doesn't seem to need them (yet).  At his age I'm surprised.  I'm sure he has other age related issues though. 

Ummm Humm Ummm

I recently had my prescription up graded which sent me on a search for new lenses.  My company had just added vision to our plan so I figured I could save a little money by using an in network provider.  My original place wasn't "in network" so I headed to one that was, thinking they were all the same.  Not.  There was a scooter parked outside with alien stickers all over it, I must have gotten that guy as my "sales associate".  Hum, that was my first clue something was amiss.

He was nice enough as he did the used car salesman thing on me.  Complete with the phrase "wait, let me talk to my manager" before I headed out the door.  After all, I just wanted lenses put in my existing frames, not something I should have to take out a small loan to buy.  I returned to my original place and was efficiently serviced by an optometrist, plus it was $100 cheaper than Mr. Scooter.  I was told to return in 7 days to have the lenses installed "that will only take 30 minutes" I was assured.

Lunch

On the appointed day I had made arrangements to meet The Worm and Big Jim for lunch (actually I invited myself) at a rather questionable establishment in Tallahassee.  Jim asked me to deliver his bike to a local shop for him since he's just soooo busy.  I can make fun of him since he doesn't read this anymore.


Anyhoo, I took his bike by the shop and then headed over to pick up my glasses, thinking, well, "this will only take 30 minutes".

The Wait

There were 3 people waiting when I got there.  Two being "serviced" by the only two optometrists on duty, and one just standing.  I lurked around the displays.  As I passed one of the seated customers I overheard him giving a loooong detailed description of all his ailments.  Then he must have tried on 10 pairs of glasses, commenting extensively on each pair.  I began to get antsy.


This gentlemen was elderly (much older than me) so I gave him a break.  I strolled over close to the pretty lady who was complaining that "she just couldn't get used to these glasses".  She also had a stack she'd been trying on.  She'd put on a pair, walk around, bob her head up and down, make tisking sounds, and sit back down.  The first 30 minutes went by.


Just as the older gent got up to leave a large bearded man wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans walked in.  He looked to be in his late 60's.  He approached the counter and said "I guess I'm next".  The guy who had been there before me looked at me, I looked back at him, he just shrugged.  I was going quickly past just antsy and onto pissed.


Bearded man had a deep booming voice.  He proceeded to tell how he had quite a few legal documents to read, what?  No, he wasn't a lawyer, he was a mathematician.  Then he started on his life's story.  Sweat started popping out on my forehead.


Finally, Pretty Lady got her butt out of the chair just as another optometrist arrived.  I had my glasses 10 minutes later, and it only took 2 HOURS!


I blame Jim for most of this, if I hadn't taken his bike by the shop I would have gotten to the store before most of those people.  The scary part is I'm pretty sure this is the future of health care in this country.  I better get used to it.


Oh, and I'm not going to put this on Facebook.  That's another story.