Just One of the Herd

Today was a day I had looked forward to for a long time.  It was the day I had marked on the calendar for going to the Social Security office and applying for my benefits.  I was excited, almost giddy.  I woke up at 4:00 this morning and could not go back to sleep.  The night before I had gathered all the documents and I was sure that I would have to produce.  I was ready.  I had read online that Friday was the best day to visit the Social Security office.  It was supposed to be their slowest day.  We arrived around 9:30.  Suffice it to say, it looked like this as we entered the waiting area.

It was packed.  All the chairs were filled and people were standing everywhere.  We took a number and I vowed that we were not leaving until I got what I had come for.  We waited and waited.  There were three windows and people were transacting their business with a person on the other side of the window.  How was I going to get all my questions answered like this?  Occasionally they would call someone to the back.  A big television screen in the front of the waiting area was proclaiming that you could do everything online, on your cell phone, or by phone.  I had already looked at doing it online, but we had the issue of Bubba getting set up for Medicare that I knew was not going to be something we could do online.

The room was filled with several annoying people.  There was one young man who wanted to shake hands and converse with everyone who entered.  Another disabled man was at one of the windows demanding to see a supervisor.  I heard a man behind me tell someone on his cell phone that he had been waiting two hours in "Social Security hell".

Finally my number was called and we went to window number two.  After giving the woman a little of my  information, she told me that I could call and complete the application for my benefits over the phone.  I couldn't believe it.  I waited an hour and a half to be told to call back.  I almost cried, but then she left the window for a minute and came back.  She was going to let me go back and see a real person to complete the process.  I don't know why she did that for me.  Maybe she saw how disappointed I was.  In any case, we waited standing for just a few more minutes and we were called by name and were allowed to enter into the office area.

The nicest lady helped us.  She answered all of our questions and got me signed up.  Bubba just has to mail in a form from my personnel office to get him into Medicare without a penalty.  

The sad thing is that she told us that they were moving to a new office soon and that when they did, they would all be behind windows like the three set up in the waiting area.  Even she was dismayed because it was going to be even more inpersonal.  I felt like I was part of a herd of cows all morning.

Finally we were finished and went to the Cheese Barn for a celebratory lunch.  I was exhausted and shaky.  I felt like I had been to the doctor and had some kind of surgery all morning.  When I got home, I slept for two hours in the recliner.

The good news is that I now know my official date.  I will officially retire from my job on October 31.  My last date at work may be October 17, but I will decide that a little later.  I know that being retired will require some getting used to, but I'm looking forward to being free to do what I want to do.