What Made Me Cry Today

I thought I had called every conceivable business that needed to know my changed address but  I went to the doctor's office today and found out that there was one thing I had not done, which was interesting since i had called that business and told them of the change and they had never mentioned the need to call another department of their business to give them the same news, but oh well, one more phone call, I could do it!  So I gave them a call.

A lady starts chanting different menu options and the number to dial for each one. "2" sounds like it might possibly be close to what I want, so I dial it.

Another menu: I dial "4."

A third menu, I don't hear any mention of the department I want to be connected to that was previously mentioned in the last menu that led me to dial that "4." Hmmm... I randomly dial "8."


Dial "1" for English? How would I have gotten through this many menus if I didn't understand English? Maybe my choice of numbers is leading them to believe I don't understand what they are saying.

Fifth menu, list a bunch of possible extensions, "If none of these are what you are looking for then just dial "0" to speak to someone." Oh thank heavens! "0!"

Seven minute wait time, that's not too bad.

A lady answers, I give her all of my personal information to verify who I am and then I explain the situation. "Oh sorry, this is the wrong number for that. Let me transfer you to the right department." Okay, at least I'm almost there!

Eighteen minute wait time. Really awful static-y music.  I hold onto the phone with one hand and use the other to renew some library books, respond to some emails, research the top-rated baby strollers.

A lady finally picks up, I explain the situation.

"Oh no, we don't deal with that, let me give you the phone number of the office that does."

I write down the number and verbally make sure that she is sure that this number really is what I am looking for. She assures me.

I call the number. "This is Sally's answering machine!" A male voice chimes. I highly doubt that Sally can help me.

So I go online and start looking up numbers of random places that might possibly be the right one. I call one random number. "Oh no, we cannot help you, let me transfer you to this other department that deals with that."

Me: I just talked to that department ten minutes ago and they said they can't help me.

Lady: Oh okay, well then, let me give you this other phone number for your local office and they should be able to help.

Oh great.

I write down the dang number. I call the dang number.

"Our office is now closed. Please call back during normal business hours." I look at the clock. It's 4:32pm. I stay on the line to find out what "normal" business hours are. None are mentioned. Since when is 4:32pm on a Thursday not normal business hours?

I close my phone and my pregnancy-hyped hormones kick in and I burst into tears.

What a waste of an hour of my day. I just want to update my information so that I can give birth to my baby in my current city instead of my old one, is that too much to ask?!

I will try again tomorrow.