Thread by @gradydoctor

1/
Grady Lobby

I was sitting at the #NoJudgmentZone table and notice a Grady elder quickly moving toward me on a walker.

Her: "'Scuse me, baby. You know where this at?" *places paper onto desk*

I took the paper and scanned it. Someone jogged up beside her.

Niece: "Auntie!"

2/
The Grady elder swung her head in the direction of the woman. The woman was panting.

Niece: *shaking head* "Auntie! Why you bothering this lady? She ain't the information."

The Grady elder rolled back a few steps and craned her neck to look at the sign beside my table.

3/
She squinted her eyes at me.

Her: "Now what you say you doing here?"
Me: "Ma'am?"
Her: "I'm trying to figure out what you doing next to the information if you ain't the information."

*laughter*

Me: "It's okay. I'm answering questions about the #COVIDVaccine."

4/
Her: "You jest. . .sitting out here at a table for THAT?"
Me: *chuckling* "Yes ma'am. Do you mind me asking you if you've been vaccinated?"

The Grady elder pulled her hand off of the handle of her rolling walker and placed it on her hip.

Her; "Say WHAT now?"

Rut roh.

5/
Her: "Oh, sugar, I gots mine the DAY y'all said go. Well. Technically, I got it after that but not 'cause I wasn't trying, shit."
Me: "That's great."
Her: "Shit, when y'all gon' give me the boost? I need to get that."
Niece: "Auntie, we scheduled it already, remember?"

9/
Her: *shrugs* "Well good."

*silence*

Me: "What about you?"
Niece: "Me?"
Me: *nodding*

*silence*

Me: "Oh, it's okay if you don't want to tell me. My bad."

The elder whipped her head toward her.

Her: "Tell you what? Shit, she betta be vaccinated."
Niece: *laughter*

10/
Her: "Ha ha HELL!"

*laughter*

Niece: *to me* "I'm probably about to get it. My job 'bout to make us. I just ain't been sure."

Lawd. What did she say that for?

Her: "Wait WHAT? You been 'Aintie this, Aintie that' all up in my face and you ain't took that shot?!"

11/
Niece: *laughing * "Auntie, you so funny."
Her: "The hell I am! YOU funny if you thank you 'bout to be 'round me without no vaccine."
Niece: "I'm still thinking 'bout it, Auntie."
Her: "Well tell me this--what you thank about being dead?" *looks at me* "Where she sign up?"

12/
Me: *nervous laughter*
Her: "I'm serious." *back to niece* "You gon' carry your little narrow behind down that hall right now and get that shot, you hear me?"

Wait what?

Me: "Whoa. Wait. Auntie, it's her decision, okay? But I do appreciate you looking out for her."

13/
Her: "For her? We together every day! Shit, I'm worried 'bout my damn self!" *to niece* "You know that Delta #COVID get all up in your nostrils and hide. Then it jump out on people that ain't expecting it."

Umm.

Niece: *to me* "I just hadn't gotten 'round to it."

14/
Niece: "How long will it take?"
Me: "What, if you do it now? Like a half hour maybe? Start to finish."
Niece: "Okay."
Me: "Okay what?"
Niece: "Okay I'll get it."
Me: "Wait. Now?"
Niece: "Sure. Now."

Her: "DAMN RIGHT she will."

*laughter*

Me: "Aww man. That's great."

15/
Me: "Do you have . . like questions?"
Niece: "Nah. Everybody be saying the same thing like a broken record. For me, I just hadn't gotten around to it. And I'm scared of shots."
Me: *nods*
Niece: *whispers* "But I'm more scared a my auntie."
Her: "I HEARD THAT."

*laughter*

16/
Me: *looking back at paper again* "Okay, Auntie. This clinic is right down that hall right there, first door on your right." *pointing*
Her: "Okay. So go on and take her for that shot while I go on over here. And make sure she don't back out neither."
Me: "Uh. . okay."

17/
I was the only one at the table so wasn't sure what to do. But when I looked back up into that Grady elder's eyes? I knew not to do anything other than what I was told.

Mmm hmmm.

And so. I packed up my personal items into my backpack and left the table with her niece.

18/
And you know? That niece got her first dose of the vaccine. She sure did.

And as we waited for her auntie to come back, we both decided that Auntie should be hired as the secret weapon to get folks vaccinated. Then we just laughed and laughed together.

Yup.

19/
When the Grady elder returned, she told me she was pleased. And while she did mutter a few more expletives about her niece JUST getting vaccinated, she was mostly happy.

I told them how grateful I was that they'd mistaken me for information. And asked if I could share this.

20/
Her: "Hell yeah. Tell 'em that old folks need them to get they shots so they don't have nothing jumping out they noses on us!"
Me: "That's quite a visual."

*laughter*

Niece: "Definitely tell about this. If you think it'll help. I feel happy I got it."

I wanted to cry.

21/
It had been kind of slow at the table that morning. But just when I started to doubt what we were doing, this happened.

Sigh.

I know we're all tired. But I swear these conversations aren't in vain. And I like to believe our influence is contagious, too.

Yeah. 💛