We are approximately three and a half months into this pandemic, one hundred and five days into an uncertain future. I’m sick of people referring to this as the new normal – there is not one thing normal about it. Restrictions are finally easing a bit, we can now get a hair cut if we wear a mask during the cutting, we can venture into a few stores in carefully monitored numbers as long as we sanitize our hands and keep our distance from other mask wearing shoppers. We are allowed to socialize in an expanded bubble and dish out virtual hugs. And as long as our ‘numbers’ stay low we can continue down this re-opening path. YAY!
I’m too old for this shit, coping with these changes is as exciting as a root canal. I’m done of being a good sport about it, tired of looking for the humorous side of something that is so far from funny it makes me want to grind my teeth. I’ve had it – but not to the point where I’m willing to risk blowing it now.
I am amassing a lovely, and I might add fashionable, collection of masks. I’m setting up for the long haul and plan to rock this new look. For all the changes this virus has brought to mankind having to lose a little face for the sake of safety seems a small price to pay for some new found freedom.
Of course there is discourse about this mask wearing thing, those who refuse to bend to the new reality, people who are carrying on as if life has gone back to normal – they are the people creating peer pressure for those of us who are following the rules. I feel like I’m back in high school, it’s me who is self-conscious when confronted with an in-your-face face and I shouldn’t be. Mask wearing shouldn’t cause for ridicule – the bare faced people are not the cool dudes they are the risk takers and it’s me they are putting at risk.
The experts agree mask wearing won’t save us from the virus but it could be another tool to slow its spread. Add a mask to social distancing and a vigorous hand washing regime and we lower the risk of sharing our germs with others. We the mask wearers are keeping those around us a little safer – it would be lovely if those around us would do the same.
