1/
Waiting for takeout

Her: “Girrrrl! Who is that random white man all over your face?”

*leans closer*

Her: “Waymint—is that my man #Fauci? Oh, okay, sis. You good.”
Him: “Oh yeeeeah, that’s our dude. Fauci definitely invited to the family BBQ.”

*laughter*
2/
Me: “Plus you know he’ll wear a mask.”
Him: “And he already got a #COVID shot.”

I mean . . how could I resist?

Me: “So what y’all thinking about getting a #COVIDVaccine?”
Her: *shrugs*
Him: “Shiiiiid. I already got BOTH a mine.”
Me: “Yeah?”
Him: “Heeeeell yeah. At my job.”
3/
Her: “You wasn’t scared?”
Him: *shaking head* “F that. I’m way more scared of suffocating to death.”
Her: *listening*
Me: “I got vaccinated, too.”
Her: *swinging head to me* “You did?”
Me: “Yup.”
Him: *gives me elbow bump* “That’s what’s up.”

She looked intrigued.
4/
Him: “Shiid. It’s real in these Rona streets.”

*laughter*

Me: “Where you work?”
Him: “Hospital security.”

We talked about our jobs and our vaccine experiences.

Her: “Y’all got me feeling left out the gang!”
Him: “She’ll jump you in. She work at Grady.”

*laughter*
5/
Me: “Jump her in? That’s hilarious.”
Her: “Where could I get it?”

I shared a few options and showed her a website, too.

Him: “See? Told you Grady would jump you in.”
Me: “You funny.”
Him: “Maybe. But this #COVID ain’t no laughing matter.”

*silence*

Him: “Real talk, tho?”
6/
Him: “I’m glad she joked you ‘bout your mask. ‘Cause I low key thought it was ol’ dude from CNN.”
Me: 🤔
Her: “Who? My boo #AC360?Girl! Bring HIM to the cookout, too!”

*laughter*

Me: “Not if y’all ain’t vaccinated.”
Him: “Right?”
Her: “I’m getting mine, don’t worry!”
7/
Not wanting to suffocate.
Uncertainty.
Logistics.

These were their whys.

Theirs.

A maybe became a yes.

Augmented by a #Fauci mask, laughter, an imaginary cookout, and the very best kind of peer pressure from strangers.

Yay. 😷👊🏽

#BlackWhysMatter
#idontmakethisstuffup

• • •

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More from @gradydoctor

20 Jan
1/
A Grady elder once told me that we should all learn (and savor) ALL 3 verses of the Negro National Anthem. In honor of her-- and this historic moment--these @EmoryMedicine #BlackWomeninMedicine have done just that.

The first but not the last. . . .
2/
. . . and at @EmoryMedicine, not the only either.

We are Assistant, Associate, and FULL Professors.
We are deans, vice chairs, chiefs, educators, investigators, and more.

And this?

This is for colored girls who considered quitting when the expectation wasn't enuf. . .
3/
Sis. . . .you've got this. Yes, you.

We see you.
We're with you.
We celebrate you.

The first but not the last. Oh, happy day! 🌄✊🏾

#RepresentationMatters
#BlackWomeninMedicine
#BlackWomenatEmoryMedicine
#LiftEvryVoice
#TheFirstButNotTheLast
#WeGotNOW
Read 4 tweets
20 Jan
1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 7 of 7

Car Wash

Me: *approaching car* "Oh my bad. I thought they called for me."
Him: "Hey Doc . . . almost done." *looks over at co-worker* "She a doctor. Ask her."
Me: *turning to her* "Ask me what?"

She snapped him with a towel and scowled.
2/
Her: "Forget him! I ain't buggin' you out here."
Him: "Doc, you want air freshener today?"
Me: "Sure." *turning to her* "Happy to answer a question if you have one. But I also understand if you didn't want him putting you on blast."

*laughter*

She was limping.
3/
Me: "Something with your foot?"
Him: "See? Tell her!"

*pause*

Her: *shaking head* "My foot be killing me. 'Specially in the morning when I first get up."
Me: "Yeah?"
Her: "Yeah! Like that first step out my bed?" *squeezing her eyes* "Baybaaaay! You talkin' bout some pain?"
Read 19 tweets
18 Jan
1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 6 of 7

You

You know how much I love you. We’re so close that sometimes we do that thing where we call each other at the same time. Because, in that precise moment, we both felt a cosmic need to connect.

That close.

And, on top of that, you trust me.
2/
I told you that I thought you should be vaccinated. You said something like, “I hear you.” But that? That was before we actually had a #COVIDVaccine.

So I didn’t press you.

But then the news hit. 2 vaccines—and an EUA for them to be injected into arms ASAP.

Yup.
3/
I brought it up again. You answered quickly.

You: “I’ll get it.”
Me: “Wow. Okay.”

And you went back to doing whatever you were doing.

Me: “That's all? Did you want to talk about it?”
You: *shrugging* “I mean. I’m getting it. So . . . “

You laughed.
I did not.
Read 17 tweets
17 Jan
1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 5 of 7

Neighborhood Pizza Spot

Them: “Hey doc. . . gon' be a few more minutes.”
Me: *pinching down nose of my mask* “No prob.”
Them: “Sorry ‘bout that. You doing okay?”
Me: “Yup—you?”
Them: “Hangin' in.”

I nodded and stepped over to the side to wait.
2/
Them: *calling to back* “Y’all almost got that Brooklyn Style XL ready?”

Someone yelled back that it was coming out now. They looked over at me and gave me a thumbs up. I returned the gesture.

Them: “Bet y’all super busy. This pandemic is still bad!”
Me: *sigh* “Yeah.”
3/
A man walked in with a fluffy salt and pepper beard peaking around his mask. Without getting a name, they handed him two pizzas.

Man: “Be safe!”
Them: “You, too!”

Be safe.
You, too.

Me: “I love how you know everyone.”
Them: “I do know y’all!”

That made me smile.
Read 14 tweets
16 Jan
1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 4 of 7

Senior Center

I stood with my gloved hands folded as she approached my station.

Her: *calling out* “Sorry I’m moving so slow.
Me: “It’s okay. Take your time.”

Slowly she approached, leaning her weight onto a four-prong cane with each step.
2/
She handed me her consent form and ID.

Me: “Hi! My name is Dr. Manning. I’ll be administering your #COVIDVaccine today.”
Her: *nodding* “Nice to meet you. I’m Eloise.”
Me: “Likewise, Ms. Eloise. Thanks for being so patient with us.”
Her: “It’s okay.”

*name/details changed
3/
Me: “Ms. Eloise, you right-handed or left-handed?”
Her; “I’m both handed. I was left but when I was little mama’nem made me learn to use my right.”
Me: *chuckling* “Well, let’s see. . . .which arm do you prefer me to give your shot in?”
Her: “Really? Neither.”

*laughter*
Read 20 tweets
14 Jan
1/
#WhatsYourWhy, Day 3 of 7

Parking lot

I was walking to my car and saw 2 men next to a car and laughing. They appeared relaxed with one another.

Me: *waving* “Y’all doing alright?”
Them: *waving back* “Good and you?”
Me: “Trying to make it.”

They gave knowing nods.
2/
"Trying to make it."
An expression Black folks know well.

Yup.

One was wearing an Atlanta Falcons hoodie with the hood up. Only a strip of pecan-colored skin could be seen above his mask.

The other had on a thread-bare short-sleeved t-shirt & a neck gaiter over his nose.
3/
Me: “Dang! You ain’t cold out here with that short-sleeved shirt?”

He rubbed his dark brown arms and laughed.

Hoodie: “Nah, the ashiness is protective.”

*laughter*

T-shirt: “I’ll take ashy over that wack ass Falcons hoodie.”
Me: “Yeeeah. . .not the best year for us.”
Read 16 tweets

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