I went to CVS to pick up some prescriptions and get some eye drops.

Because we’re in the big, bad city, many of the items are locked up behind glass doors, and one has to summon someone to come and unlock the door in order to retrieve the desired item.

So it is with eye drops.

I pushed the button on the display case and heard the announcement over the system that help was needed in the eye care aisle.

So I waited.

And waited.

I probably only waited about a minute, but it seemed longer, and there was no sign of anyone coming to help, so I decided to leave.

On my way out, I spotted two employees chattering in a nearby aisle, so I asked, probably not in the friendliest manner, if anyone could help me. One of them said, “Oh, you mean in the eye care aisle?” 

I nodded.

Without saying a word she headed over there, and I followed, while her fellow employee made a remark about someone coming to CVS at 6:30 in the morning and having to press a button.

I would have preferred a simple “Sorry” but none was forthcoming.

Anyway, I got my eye drops and took them to the self checkout, which failed to give me a receipt. Probably just as well. CVS receipts are notorious for their extraordinary length:

That’s from a show that isn’t known for its humor.

When I got home, I checked the price of the one ounce container of eye drops. It was about $19 at CVS, whereas at Amazon I pay only about $12.

There’s a reason it’s hard to break my Amazon habit.

At least this particular CVS is open 24 hours.