Do unto others. . .

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"  This is the Golden Rule we have all learned as we were growing up.  You may prefer, as I do, this version:  "In everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you" Matthew 7:12.  The meaning is the same regardless of the source.  I try to live by this rule and have found that for the most part, it's not all that difficult once you've experienced the benefits enough to realize that God wasn't/isn't/won't be kidding -- it really is how we're supposed to be with one another.  That said, let me confess a few of my (many) shortcomings that took place today.  The only thing that saved me from letting my impatience get the better of me was a sense of humor that allowed me to step "out of myself" and view the situation as an onlooker rather than a participant.     

Yesterday, I picked up a prescription for my grandson and was a little surprised when the pharmacist said rather assertively, "That'll be sixty-three dollars and nineteen cents," when I knew there was insurance involved.  I just thought, "Whoa...if it's that much with coverage, imagine what it must be without" and paid for it using my debit card.  It didn't occur to me to question the matter since the folks at a different pharmacy that I use always take the initiative in being helpful in these matters.  Today I found out that the entire amount was in fact covered by insurance and that I should go in and have the charge refunded to my debit card.  "Sounds good to me," I thought, so off I went.  When I got there I picked up two items I needed and proceeded to the back of the store to the pharmacy where I stood in line and read labels on things until all the side effect warnings started giving me anxiety.  I wondered when it would be my turn to step into the 'zone of privacy' beyond the magic sign that (I suppose) has powers to create an invisible wall that prevents others from seeing or hearing about any personal business or ailments.  (I guess I should probably let the store know that the sign wasn't working today since I couldn't help but hear everything, even with my hearing loss.  As far as seeing, that was easy to prevent -- I just didn't look.) 

Finally, I was next.  I offered to let a man go ahead of me, thinking my business might take longer than his but he was quite insistent that we go in order so I stepped up to plead my case, so to speak, only to be told that I needed to go over to another person's line because she takes care of billing.  So...I get in that line for a slightly shorter wait, carefully avoiding reading any posters or labels on things.  I noticed there was no 'zone of privacy' there.  I stand on my tiptoes to speak over the counter and again, plead my case.  "He takes care of that," she says, indicating the man I had just spoken with.  "He told me to come over here," I said.  "That's because he doesn't know everything is all set," she says.  By now the first line had grown longer.  "You mean I have to wait in that line again?" I ask.  She nods.  So...I get in that line for a slightly longer wait than I had the first time, examined all the magnifying sunglasses on the rack, counted all the brands of diet pills, spoke to a relative, listened to an entire phone conversation the woman behind me was having (about some kind of red rash, oozing with puss and is getting worse...) and had a brief conversation with a man who was leaving who had been two people behind me the first time.  "Are you in line again?" he asked.  "Yes," I said.  "I liked it so much the first time I decided to go around again."  For the third time, I approached the counter.  This time, a girl is at the register.  The man steps over and confides that, technically, this type of transaction should take place at the front register but "they won't know what you're talking about," he says. Then, Man One, Lady Two and Girl Three all confer.  Man One is cordial but clearly feeling slightly defiant.  So am I.  Girl Three is a little flustered.  I am not.  Lady Two is efficiently expediting the process.  I like her! 

Meanwhile, Girl Three: Do you have a Wellness Card?   Me: No. 

Girl Three: Was this a debit?  Me: Yes. 

Girl Three: What's your telephone number?  I tell her.

Girl: For some reason, it's not taking this number.  Do you have a different number?  Me: No.

She tries again.  No luck.  I give her my phone number from a long time ago, just in case.  No luck with that either.  So I ask her, "Are you talking about the phone number associated with my debit card?"  "No," she says, "the one for your Wellness Card."  "I don't have a Wellness Card," I tell her...again.  "That explains it!" we both agree.

The line behind me is growing......

She proceeds with further steps.  I swipe my card.  I "agree" to this and that by checking boxes and sign my name in the blue space in the little window, using the plastic "pen" with no point.  "For some reason I can't get this to go back on your card," she says..."do you mind if I give you cash?"  "That's fine!" I say before she put the "sh" on the word "cash."  "Would you like to have these receipts to show that we paid you the refund?" she wants to know.  "Yes, please!" I answered, distinctly.  Quickly, I asked, "Now, can I pay for these two items at this register......or do I have to go up front and wait in line again?"  She said I could pay for them there.  =^)  So I do pay (in cash), thank her kindly, gather up my stuff and turn toward the door.  When I'm halfway up an aisle, Man One calls out, "it helps if your insurance information is in order," putting me in mind of when my children were little and would defend their individual righteousness with, "You started it!"  I just shrugged and said, "It's not even mine."  His response was, "I know."  I suspect it was not so much that he was agreeing with me as it was his way to have the last word.

I hope I don't sound like I'm angry or harboring any ill will.  Quite the contrary, the humor in all this has lightened my load, you might say, and has resulted in this being a rejuvenating day.  I dearly love people with all their little quirks just as I hope they will love me with mine.