J. M. Johnson Consulting

Several days ago, my cousin posted on Facebook about her very negative and protracted experience at a local chain pharmacy.  While reading her post, I recalled with a quickened pulse, a similar experience that I had around the same time period.

Let me start from the beginning.  I do not remember being impatient until after a distressing experience I had as a freshman at Kent State University.  That experience has impacted me.  What experience was that?  It was registration and drop/add at the beginning of the quarter in the 70s.  There was no online anything.  You either did what you had to do by mail or in person.

When I tell you that I stood in line for hours and hours, know that I am not exaggerating.  I wanted to either drop to my knees and cry or run out of the gymnasium screaming.  I did neither.  I needed my classes.  I would have been too embarrassed.  They say that misery loves company.  I honestly did not care about the sanity of the hundreds of fellow Flashes who were waiting with me.  I was only concerned about surviving…mentally.

Since those trying “waiting in long line experiences” of the 70s at Kent State University, I have experienced extreme impatience and at times anxiety when I approach a long line.

Now back to my experience.  It was 8 pm and I had to get a prescription filled at a local chain pharmacy.  This prescription had to be filled and started that evening.  I was on a mission of mercy for my husband.  As I was driving to the drug store, I thought to myself that by it being so late in the evening, I would not have a long wait.

As I approached the parking lot, I could see that there were quite a few cars there.  I said a silent prayer for patience and calm.  I did some deep breathing and entered the store.  As I approached the prescription drop off area, I noticed that there was no line.  I breathed a sigh of relief.

I waited there for a couple of minutes and saw three pharmacy team members look at me.  I thought, surely someone will come soon. As I waited, I noticed that there were stacks of baskets with filled and unfilled orders surrounding a lone pharmacist.  The other employees were rushing about, looking for misplaced orders, taking calls and helping the drive thru customers.

To be continued.

Jennifer McClellan Johnson, MBA, MSSA, LISW-S