A Wow Moment and Some Annoyance

Friday, I had an appointment with a new optometrist. I had my usual concerns: will I fit in the chairs in the waiting room and will I fit in the exam chair. Oh, and how outrageous is this bill going to be?

I arrived at the office, checked in with the receptionist, and then took a gander around the waiting room. All standard size chairs with arms on them, which I can't fit in unless I cause myself considerable pain squeezing into them.

I decided to try to squeeze into one and hope the wait wasn't too painfully long. I sat down and let out this gasp that startled the receptionist, so she asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine, just having a WOW moment. I fit in the chair! I mean, it wasn't like I had room on each side, but I wasn't in pain from sitting in it. I didn't have to wiggle my hips down between the arms. I just sat down. Ya know....like normal people do!

When I got to the exam chair, that was a different matter. At least the arms swung up so I could have room. The tech felt bad and told me that she barely fit in the chair. I am sure she was just being kind because she looked very fit to me.

The optometrist was very nice, but she responded to all of the eye issues that I brought up with: These things happen when you get close to fifty. I was not happy to repeatedly hear this. Who needs reminders?

The ultimate diagnosis, I now need bifocals. I have to use drops for a dry eye condition. Plus, there were a couple of spots on my macular and with a strong family history of macular degeneration, I will need to have my macular mapped for a baseline so they can track changes. I guess these things happen when you get close to fifty. *insert annoyed look here.*

Okay, so it is time to pay. I have to pay my co-pay and for the bifocals, so they order them for me. I hand them my credit card. Sheepishly, this guy comes back and says it was denied. WTF? Okay, so I give him my debit card. Again, he comes back and says that it was denied. Um, no way! There are funds in that account. I couldn't believe that I actually had to write a check.

I went straight home and there was a message waiting from my credit card company about a fraud alert. I called the company and it turns out the moron had entered the security code incorrectly so they denied it. I then called my debit card company and ditto! So, I call the optometrists office to let them know that this guy needs additional training and they just say that the card equipment is quirky like that.

Oh well, no one can take away my WOW moment. I can't wait for the day when I stop worrying about seating, like normal people, and just sit down.