Wednesday 24 December 2008

Totally, Unexpectedly, Made a Friend (Sort of)

It was getting to the end of the year and I decided I wanted to use up the bit of money that my health fund allows me for optometry cover. Heck, I pay them a certain amount each year, I guess I should try to get some of it back, although I s'pose trying to get run over by a bus so I could get myself a few days in the luxury of a private hospital wasn't the best way to do it.

So I opted for the new glasses.

Mr Coffee advised me on a few places in the city which had a wide range of glasses, so I went off to one, all with the full intention of being a canny customer - I would check out each store, take notes, ask intelligent questions and go for the one with the best deal.

Well, I stopped by Laubman & Pank in Myer first off, and unfortunately, canny customer went straight out the window. They were so nice and sweet and told so many funny jokes without being annoying that I decided to spend my money with them without checking out the other stores first.

This is where I go from canny, astute customer to TOTAL SUCKER FIRST CLASS. They were good.

Well, I seem to have picked a pair of specs I like, and got a new eye test.

The staff fluttered around me like I was a celebrity. I'm surprised I wasn't asked for my autograph. I was in a tizzy afterwards and came back from the optometrist walking as ifmy shoes had little wings on them.

However, there was one teensy weensy problem - the machine through which I had to swipe my medical benefits card was broken at the moment but they would be getting it fixed soon, certainly in time for me to get my rebate back by the end of the year. They'd call me the minute it was fixed.

The next day I happened to be in the area so athough I hadn't received a call I decided to pop in just to see how everything was going.

No, the machine wasn't fixed, but they were definitely on to it.

What was supposed to be a 3 second pop in ended up in me chatting to the girl there about my current glasses - and ten suddenly her sitting down and giving me a whole cutesy optometry lesson - and then a whole talk about the history of glasses and contact lenses and discusing fashion - and Christmas - and work - and the Christmas sales - and current affairs ...

Oh how did that happen? Suddenly she was my best buddy, even if we were standing there bending over a counter of eyedrop displays!

The spell was broken when she said, "Whoops, a customer!" and I realised I really ought to get back. Maybe it was time for dinner.

Get your eyes checked, and make a friend. It should be the new spectacles slogan.

BTW, I'm still waiting for the machine to be fixed. Who knows what could happen when I go to swipe my card?

4 comments:

TimT said...

Completely pedantic of me, but every time I use a card machine and the machine or the teller says that I should 'swipe' my card, I grind my teeth.

Swipe is such an ugly word! And alternatives are so easily available: 'slide', 'wipe', 'whip', 'flick', etc. Who decided that everyone has to 'swipe' their cards?

Shelley said...

I live in fear of my card being swiped.

Maria said...

Please just let your card schmooze and ooze it's way down this metallic strip.

Sally it's way down.

Let your plastic rectangle's electronic magnetic code barely flutter down the cold bare hardness of this machine I present beore you?

Hmmm.

So many options.

Maria said...

What about "tickle"?

"Just let the old card tickle the machine there, sir, and press the green button, too, please, guv'nor!"

I rather like that.