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We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
I knew it might be an odd experience since I haven’t been out much. But it felt even stranger and more disconcerting than I had expected. The pharmacy in our development is small. It’s usually not very busy there, so I figured I’d just ride over and pick up my prescription. Jerry was dying to get out of the house—it was almost like a road trip—and drove me over.
To avoid people’s bumping into each other to shop or pick up their prescriptions, the owners decided to allow one person at a time into the store. There were at least four signs in the little outside entry area that demanded we wait outside until it was our turn. (I say demanded because words on the signs were underlined, and one sign had a large arrow on each side of it so that inattentive customers would be sure to see it.)
As I approached the pharmacy entrance, I saw one person waiting outside—with her mask and a pair of spring blue rubber gloves. Walking up to the door just before me was a fellow who looked perfectly normal—except he had on a mask and a pair of yellow leather gloves. He looked slightly familiar, but I realized all of us do when half our faces are missing. I felt almost naked with just a mask on.
Normally people in our development are pretty friendly. Wherever a group of us is waiting, we smile, pass the time making small talk. But today, all of us were silent. No chit-chat. No smiles (except for the one my husband had crudely drawn on my paper mask). We all stood our six feet apart, quietly, waiting our turn.
Each time a person came out, another one of us went in. Every customer had on a mask and gloves. (Maybe as seniors, they all feel threatened. After all, I’m only 70.) Finally, the fellow who’d been in front of me came out, nodded, and I felt sure I could detect a smile under his mask. It comforts me to think so.
In spite of the sunny day, cloudless sky and gentle breeze, it felt dark and forbidding as I waited. It seemed like all of us waiting were stuck in a timeless movie, where our lives were forced to stand still. Even the birds, usually calling out to one another, seemed to be silenced with us. We were together but alone.
Fortunately, the pharmacy pretty much had its routine in order. So once I went in, I exited with my medication quickly.
But the oppressive feeling of disruption, sadness, and uncertainty followed me out the door.
I still haven’t shaken it.
Published in Culture
Right to Assembly.
Maybe we need another Amendment:
Freedom from Requirements to Isolate?
Maybe time to determine that Chief Constable Nick isn’t so essential, after all.
Chief Constable Nick just got his fingers slapped: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-police-backtrack-after-chief-threatened-to-search-shoppers-trolleys-11971269
I still want to spend my final year in Cambridge. I have said before that if I were diagnosed with a terminal illness and only had a year to live, I would want to spend it in Cambridge.
Why Cambridge?
Cambridge is the most beautiful town on Earth, in my opinion. It is very old, and the old town is “owned” by the University of Cambridge, and has been carefully maintained and restored. One small sample:
Bridge on the River Cam, behind Trinity College, Cambridge. I stayed in the College next door, Trinity Hall College, which was originally started to train canon lawyers. Under the arch on the right, you can see a flat-bottomed boat, a “punt”. If you go to my Ricochet page, there is a picture of the punts rented out by Trinity College to anyone wanting to go punting on the Cam.
If that picture’s typical of the area, it is gorgeous indeed. Thanks for sharing it. :)
Oh hell. That was his worst book. He was whacked on coke and doesn’t even remember writing it.
If you haven’t read Stephen King On Writing, please do. I promise you’ll love it.
Since you’re in Florida and summer is approaching, now I’m wondering what the beachgoers look like in bikinis and masks.
He’s really an amazing writer.
I used to love being scared to death by him, staying up all night reading with my back plastered up against a wall so nothing could sneak up on me. Unless it came THROUGH the wall…. EEK!
I was at Lowes the other day, and I could have sworn I saw Kathy Bates buying a sledgehammer . . .
I’m your number one fan!
On my morning walk, I did encounter some folks. We all made an effort to make sure there was a 6′ gap, with a knowing smile on our faces. It was more than a greeting smile; it was more like yes, we’re all in this together. Sweet.
Only one person had on a face mask.
You rebel, you. In parts of California you may have been arrested for venturing out and in Riverside County you would have been ticketed and fined for not wearing a face mask.
Thanks, @brianwatt! How exciting! I’ve never been called a rebel!
I recommend your next step is a motorcycle and a leather jacket.
Ha! I rode on the back of my husband’s Triumph with a springer front end and NO shocks on the back seat. My hair was in a pony tail, but no leather jacket. Will that qualify?
You can’t worry about the judgement of others when you’re a rebel…
People now want face masks and no physical contact greetings to become permanent normals, and point to Asian countries as “proof” it can be done.
But, American culture is different from Asian cultures. For one thing, as you note, Americans rely a lot on facial expression in communication, so wearing a mask significantly diminishes communication. Asian cultures have spent centuries developing cultural values that discourage significant emotional facial expression, so masking in such cultures has less impact on communication. Asian cultures have also spent centuries developing cultural traditions of no physical contact greetings. In America we have lots of data that physical touch is psychologically important to many if not most people. Loss of physical touch is one of the most lamented issues for the widowed and divorced.
Enforcing long term in America the masking of facial expressions and no physical contact will harm a lot of people and their ability to communicate. We do not widely share the centuries of Asian cultures that allow Asians to adopt regular mask wearing and no physical contact greetings.
So, I resist efforts to make face masks and no physical contact greetings permanent normals.
I completely agree, @fullsizetabby! I’m already suffering from withdrawal from hug deprivation! Seriously, I’m very concerned that at least in the short term, people will expect others to wear masks, even when we’re past the worse. You and I can start a protest group.
For you,@aaronmiller:
“What am I doing out and about, officer? I came out to practice my insolent answers to impertinent questions asked by officious blowhards. Why are you here?”
Kansas isn’t looking so hot right now. The person in the Governor’s house issued orders on religious gatherings on Wednesday, Thursday the 7 member legislative bipartisan panel overrode the orders, Friday ‘Nurse Rachett’ filed a lawsuit, and Saturday arguments were heard at the state Supreme Court. Now, if anyone here followed the back and forth on the school financing battle we endured for 3? years, you know how the court will rule……
Screw it. If we have to wear masks (my little town of Monrovia CA went from “masks recommended” to “mask shaming” in 24 hours) I’ll just stop going anywhere. Believe me, the adjustment will not be much.
On one hand I’m thinking: what the hell? all that sunscreen and thousands of dollars of the “natural look” for this? on the other hand, am satisfied I didn’t spring for the facelift. On that note, can we start demanding that the masks be pulled over the neck? Personally, that’s where I need some work. And while I have a LOT of scarves, can’t compete with Birx.
This meets the neck criteria but needs to be more colorful for your fashion needs. Tie-dyed would be easily done, but may not hit the right note, style-wise.
I can work with that …
Well, well, surprise, surprise! The KS supreme court jesters uphold the ruling on religious gatherings issued by the governor. Let me show you my shocked face-!O,O,O! or ( .O. ), no , that looks like an upside down pig… hmmmm…