The small town of Pickens, South Carolina is normally quiet in the early mornings. All the small diners are packed as usual but the downtown traffic is sparse.
When I hit 178 this morning and began entering the outskirts of Pickens, I knew something was wrong. There were two police officers at every traffic light (yet the light’s weren’t broken), there were photographers milling around in the street, and the traffic was thick as pie.
Eventually, the news began spreading throughout town that the fiasco was because the Health Department offered flu shots this morning. Beginning at 6am, the entire town came to a stand still as every Bobby Joe, Hank, and Mary Sue headed down to get their shot.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of the local grocery stores during winter. All it takes is one hint of snow in the air and we rush and buy all the milk and bread. Who seriously eats milk and bread during snow storms?
Most of the people headed to the HD had probably never even had a flu shot in their life, but oh my word, we had better get the shot this time! After all, there’s a shortage!
When Channel 4’s helicopter began hovering over the bank (filming the traffic mess), I couldn’t help but rush outside and take pictures.
One of the police officer’s who’d been directing traffic came into the bank around noon. He said he’d never seen such a rude and ornery group of people before. Apparently, one of the ladies in line was holding a sign above her head that read, “Bush is stupid.” As this police officer walked by, she took the sign down and held a new one aloft. It read, “And so are cops.”
He said it took all of his willpower to not cause a scene. You know, one of those good face-smashing-God’s-gonna-make-you-pay scenes. His mamma taught him to be a gentleman but he couldn’t help himself after discovering that she was one of the ones turned away at the HD. He leaned against her car, waiting for her return. Her eyebrows raised when she saw him, and she started to mouth off. He smiled and said, “Hope you catch the flu.”
Another incident occurred when an older woman tried to enter a restricted road. He blew his whistle at her and motioned for her to keep driving. The little old lady crawled out of her car and started screaming, “I’m going to whoop your $*@!”
He said it was all he could do not to laugh in disbelief. So he just got in her face and screamed, “Old woman! Get back in your car and MOVE IT!” She cowered quickly and ran to her car.
Heh. What a morning! And all of this for a flu shot.