To finish up about picking up our prescriptions – I called on Thursday to check that all had been renewed for each of us and all were ready. We get our prescriptions at the pharmacy at a local Walmart – they have been really great and helpful even before the current pandemic. They do not, however deliver. For some reason none of the Walmarts on Long Island deliver anything – ever – or, currently, have pre order and pick up – they will, however, bring prescriptions out to the car. So on Thursday we donned our masks and drove to Walmart. We parked near the exit and I telephoned. A very nice employee brought out our prescriptions and had a remote reader so we could use our credit card to pay for them – it is not usable for anything other than prescriptions – I had asked if they could add 2 tubes of denture adhesive to the order and they could not. She sent me a text with a list of what had been charged. We thanked her and drove home.
We had expected to see based on what we have seen on TV news shows and what I have heard on the various groups I read online that there would be a line to get into the Walmart (and the unrelated supermarket next to it) with one person coming out of the store and one going in, people going in and out of the store wearing masks – spread out and not near each other. As we sat waiting for our medications to be brought out – the Walmart looked more crowded than it does at Christmas!! No spacing of people coming out. Few people (other than employees) wearing masks – we were shocked. The supermarket did not have anyone at the entrance either, though it did seem emptier than the Walmart from outside. It was our first chance to see what was going “the world around here” and it was not what we expected, had seen on TV or heard from others online.
When we arrived home I stopped in the porch. I sprayed alcohol on pieces of paper towels and wiped down the medication bottles and handed them to husband in the kitchen. One medication which we each take was not in a bottle as usual – it was in boxes with strips of punch outs for the individual pills. I pulled the strips out of the boxes and did not wipe the strips, just handed to husband. The boxes, along with the paperwork for each med went into a zip plastic bag to hold for awhile. Husband's box of insulin pens, I should mention, was wiped down and put in the fridge first. As I went along I realized that we were missing two items – husband's blood meter strips (had mine) and one of his blood pressure pills – not the one that we had been told we had to wait for Thursday to get them. We also could not figure out the texted payment statement.
I telephoned the pharmacy – they had forgotten to give his meter strips. They had not been able to renew the bp medication as it was too soon by 2 weeks. I expressed surprise as I had received paperwork from our medical insurance company had said that early renewals were allowed. She went over the charges with me. I then called our insurance company and complained about the no early renewal and questioned what we had been charged for the medication in strips – apparently we had received the name brand version not the usual generic, hence the extra charge – only US$14 extra for the two of us – so not much, just wanted to know why. The other item that was a problem I knew what the problem was and it will work itself out and we get a refund of the overcharge.
So next week – I will call in his strips and his missing medication again and we will have to go there again to get them.
On Monday, husband decided that we needed to order more food. He had a list of what we needed. I had a list of what we needed – no they were not the same, but there were overlaps. He went online and put in an order from Walmart. I had expected what happened with BJs would happen with Walmart – order taken, but then contacted that most things out. No, Walmart listed items were in stock – some even said that were 3 or 5 or whatever low number were left in stock. The first items were to be delivered today, Wednesday. First item came yesterday! 6 boxes came today – 5 more items to come tomorrow – most items are coming sooner than told – that is good. A number of cans were dented (40%), some cardboard box packages were dented. Two bottle of cooking oil had been, we presume, jammed so hard into the box hat the top of them is bent and does not pop back up – maybe they will when they are opened. Husband emailed Walmart. They apologized and refunded the damaged cans. Not happy with the damaged items – but at least they stood behind the deliveries.
Again the boxes went into our side porch. I opened the boxes and wiped down each item with alcohol sprayed paper towel pieces and handed to husband. If we could open a box in the porch and dump the contents into a plastic box of ours- we did and tossed the boxes. After all this I then had to find “homes” for all we bought.
No refrigerated or frozen items. We will have to go out sometime in the next two weeks to buy additional meat items and frozen items – especially vegetables. Husband said so to me – I have been afraid to mention to him and have him go crazy.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK -
When an emergency comes along life changes. Never thought we would ever order food delivered – but we need to avoid going out. One does what needs to do to adjust and live on.
Please make sure that you and your loved ones are safe and continue to be. Wear a mask when you go out – if you don't think you need one - it couldn't hurt could it? Stay away from others when outside – why take a chance? I want you to be reading – or ignoring – me for a long time to come.
For those in the U.S.- have a safe Memorial Day. For those who are veterans – Thank you for your service.
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