It’s been a while since we’ve heard from readers of column, so today we’ll read some of their responses to this columnist’s musings. Today’s responses come from individuals who read my columns online.
The most frequent and fervent responses were about a column I wrote about the local Rite Aid drug store closing, and my concerns about pharmacies in general.
John,
After the Rite Aid store closed here, I realized that I will never again see Dennis, the Rite Aid pharmacist, who took every effort to be certain you understood your Rx. Likely he worked there for more than 40 years.
Now I use King Soopers, where Michael, the pharmacist, saved my husband’s life, I have no doubt. He was the ONLY person of the many-teamed genius specialists for my husband’s bovine replacement valve and bypass clean-out that homed in on how to take one particular medication – with food; otherwise it doesn’t work.
I have thanked him for “saving my husband’s life” many times by stopping by and loudly saying those words. By now he’d wish I’d stop.
So John, you’re not alone in the surprise, the sadness, the wonder. But we who live this long bear witness to the constant and quickly evolving scene changes. I’ll never become habituated to any of it!
Susan Tamulonis
Denver, CO
John,
What you wrote about your Rite Aid closing is EXACTLY what I say! If I’d had your writing talent, this is what I would have written. I had an emotional attachment to my local Rite Aid pharmacy. It was a community hub.
And then, all of our personal prescription information was sent to a tiny little grocery store pharmacy in the back corner of the store — 99%, that is. There were some detailed issues that had to be forwarded to yet another pharmacy.
The “new” pharmacy is a new hub and very crowded! The doctors who routinely forwarded prescriptions to pharmacies also had to make adjustments. It’s taken a couple of years to look almost-normal again.
Thanks for identifying this topic!
Julie Slark
Dana Point, CA
Dear John,
Drug stores – yes, I believe, too, they will disappear soon as well. We have a CVS up the street where I get our prescriptions, and I wonder how long it will last. I am not in the habit of sending our prescriptions to Costco or elsewhere yet. But I miss the days of going to Rite Aid stores and getting a cheap scoop of Thrifty ice cream they all used to have!
Hard to feel optimistic about much these days.
Karen Anderson
Reno, NV
Well, I guess I’m not alone in my sadness about local drug stores closing.
My column about graduations had this more upbeat response from a person who once lived in Los Banos.
Dear John,
It was 39 years ago (I have it marked on my calendar) when I graduated from Stanislaus State University in Turlock. My degree was in organizational communication. My mom, sister, brother-in-law and one of our sons came for the occasion.
My brother, the only other one in the family to have a degree, sent red roses and a note saying I would now have time to “smell the roses.” At home we had a party, to which you came.
Afterward, I had the opportunity to share my knowledge with others by teaching at the Los Banos Campus of Merced College, the OLD campus. That was an experience I truly treasure. I loved the students, loved the subject, and loved teaching it.
I might have the opportunity to also share some knowledge here at the retirement community where we now live.
Sincerely,
Diane Willems
Vancouver, WA
Diane, I’m glad you put your degree to good use, as I hope all current graduates will do.
Dear John,
My heart goes out to you. I have to get my REAL ID, too. I tried to get one when I moved to Wisconsin, but I didn’t have a state marriage certificate to show why my name had changed from the one on my birth certificate, only my church certificate. I don’t remember getting one. If I had, knowing me, I would have put it with my church certificate.
Anyway, I couldn’t get my REAL ID that day. When I thought about it later, I thought, “The state didn’t marry me, the Church did. So how were the civil authorities supposed to know that I was married at the church?”
I researched that and discovered that the church where Bill and I were married was required to notify the state (county, actually) of our marriage, and then the county was supposed to send us a state certificate.
I called the DMV and asked why the church certificate was not adequate since it was the church who actually performed the marriage and notified the state or the state would have no knowledge of it. I was told that they wouldn’t accept a church certificate, only a state certificate. Yes, I knew that. But why? I never got a good answer. The lady went on to say that it was one more thing that the state had against women, etc., etc., etc.
I still haven’t applied for a “copy” of our state marriage certificate that I don’t remember getting. I have to get going on that since I now have two sons who have homes in Florida and want me to visit them.
Sheila Weigel
Genoa City, WI
Sheila, I feel for you. Married women indeed have to go through much more to get their REAL IDs. Life isn’t fair.
John Spevak’s email is john.spevak@gmail.com
