I went to my local lab to have blood drawn for my annual physical today. I arrived a couple minutes before my 9 am. appointment.

The lobby was empty. What used to be the window where an employee sat greeting clients was covered up. There was no sound of human life anywhere. 

I received a text this morning with a link to use to check in when I arrived for my appoint. I dug my phone out of my purse and clicked on the link. 

Nothing happened. I tried again. Nothing.

I looked around the lime green and beige room trying to figure out what to do next and notice the kiosk across the room. The sign on the wall said to check in there. 

OK…touch to start. That went well. Then I was supposed to scan my driver’s license face up. An arrow on the screen pointed to the left. There didn’t seem to be any way to scan over there, but I moved my ID around that part of the screen, hoping. Eventually the screen changed and asked me to scan the front of the license.

I did the same nonsensical movements with the license.

Eventually, frustrated I backed up and gave the whole area my attention. Turns out there’s a little shelf under the right corner of the kiosk with a red light. A red light that scans little cards that are placed on the little shelf.

Huh.

I felt like I was in some sort of futuristic room waiting for an alien to begin testing on me. A few minutes later a Phlebotomist emerged and directed me into the back. She was very good at drawing blood, and friendly too. 

I was secretly relieved she didn’t have an alien head, red eyes or extra long fingers.