Page 75 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER SPRING 2022

check if those days include the day of departure. After we filled out forms—and with a quick swab
My wife Sharon and I dutifully followed the in- of the nostrils—we were done.
structions, well laid out by Celebrity, before we "Come back in 20 minutes," the man said, so we
left San Diego on a week-long roundtrip cruise in killed some time and then reported back.
October. "Everything's okay,” he said as we walked up. He
We were most concerned about getting our re- produced the coveted gold standard -- two sheets
sults back quickly, in person, after taking the test. of paper showing the results of our tests that we
Having to wait a day or for many hours seemed to needed to show the cruise officials at pier-side the
be a real unneeded anxiety builder as we finished next day. Sharon happily took them for safekeep-
packing. ing as she walked to the car.
Checking the Internet, we found a provider Confident, and looking forward to the voyage, I
about 12 miles away from our home. First, we had soon stopped dead in my tracks. Sharon abruptly
to make an appointment so I booked it a week turned around. "It says you’re positive!" she
ahead. shouted.
On the appointed day, we pulled up to the ad- The blood drained from my face, and visions of a
dress, which was not a pharmacy but a health sup- week-long adventure full of hot tubs, fine dining,
plement retailer. “Go around back for the test,” entertainment, and happy hour chat disappeared
read a sign on the front door. from my psyche.
So we drove down an alley behind the store, and "Wait a minute!” I shouted to the man, as we
spotted an empty folding chair under an awning. walked back to the store. "This says I'm positive!”
This was the place, but no one was there. I "Oh, that's wrong," he said. "Hold on while I get
rang a buzzer and out walked a man who ex- the right form."
plained the process, and told us it would cost Quickly, he was back.
each of us $125 to complete the test. We were "Here you go, all's good."
told we could submit the bill to our insurance
provider for possible repayment.

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