It’s been nearly a year. We’ve all been in quarantine for a long time, and carefully masked whenever we do venture out. Not that I hate being at home, but there is something about knowing you can’t leave your house that makes a person… well, want to leave the house.

When news arrived of two approved COVID vaccines, I was thrilled. At the start of distribution, I knew right away I wanted to get on the list to be vaccinated. Except there wasn’t a list.

While states scrambled to get the vaccine, most residents were as puzzled as me. How do I get vaccinated? A call to my doctor didn’t help. He hadn’t a clue either. Local and state jurisdictions didn’t appear to be any better informed. After a ton of phone calls, emails, and frustration, I was finally told that wait lists would be established, and I should sign up on every list possible. I jumped to follow through, and then waited. Time ticked by without me hearing a single word, even after my tier became available. It seemed like communication wires were more tangled than a big pile of spaghetti.

Then I got a tip from a friend who used a phone number at a medical practice where we both were patients. I called the number and actually spoke to an honest-to-goodness live person. He asked what felt like dozens of health questions, and then scheduled my appointment for only a few days later. I felt like I’d won the lottery.

This past Saturday, I went to an outpatient center to receive my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I didn’t feel a thing. After hanging around for the required fifteen minutes, I was finished. In and out in a total of twenty-five minutes. The event organizers did a great job, getting folks immunized far more quickly than my expectation. They even immediately scheduled vaccine #2 right on the spot.

Vaccine after effects? Other than a sore arm and small bruise (despite moving my arm around like a windmill in hopes of preventing muscle soreness), I had no problem at all. I hear shot #2 may be a bit more challenging, but I don’t care, because the vaccine gives me hope.

Hope of visiting loved ones. Hope of eating lunch in a restaurant again. Hope of taking a research trip that had to be postponed. And most of all, hope that more friends won’t succumb to this deadly virus.

Yes, I’ve been vaccinated! How about you? Any luck in your area?

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Pat Wahler is the author of Western Fictioneers’ Best First Novel of 2018, I am Mrs. Jesse James, the Becker Family series of contemporary romance novels, and a collection of bite-sized yuletide stories, Let Your Heart Be Light: A Celebration of Christmas.