I use a nasal spray at bedtime to ease sinusitis and breathing difficulty. I ran out yesterday and at midnight, called the always available prescription Caremark number. “Thank you for calling the Caremark Silverscript service for The New York Times,” a cheerful robot said. I went through the automated system and ordered my med and learned I would have to get a new prescription for next time. I looked into faster delivery for a minimum $17 and more for even faster delivery. I chose not to pay these outrageous prices. I’ll wing it.

I had to tell the robot my id number, which is about 12 numbers, and my birthdate. At least they have improved their voice recognition system, because I have had the experience of giving them my birth date – September 26, 1931, and having the voice confirm, “Your birth date is April 12, 1956, is that correct?” Repeated tries always got a really messed up response.

I also updated the credit card on file with Caremark since I just got a new one. If your card is out of date (this happened once), they don’t call to check with you, they just don’t fill the order and you are left hanging until you realize you didn’t get your stuff.

This morning I got an automated call from them that was an “incomplete”. So I called them back and learned it was just an notification that my med would be delivered by 1/31. Kind of a long time if one is not breathing. Then the voice asked if I would run out, so I said yes, and I got a nice young man named Alex. I informed him that unless he had some magic up his sleeve, he was probably only going to reaffirm that it would cost at least $17 for an earlier delivery, but that was okay because I didn’t need to breathe. I let him think that I was too poor, rather than I was just annoyed.

“Oh no,” he said, “I’m sorry.” “Not a problem,” I said. “I won’t feel it for a couple of days and then I just won’t sleep.” “ Oh, oh, oh,” he said. “I feel terrible.” I told him it was not his fault, that I should have realized I was running out. We parted on good terms but I was charmed by his concern and he may even lie awake tonight, agonizing over my health. He said if it got to be really a problem, I should call back and perhaps he could arrange a pick-up of a small supply at the local pharmacy.

There are some sweet people out there, but they have no power.

xx, Teal