Monday, May 25, 2020

MISJUDGED


First I want to thank you all so very much for your encouraging and comforting comments on my last post.  You really picked me up and kicked my depression to the curb with kindness and understanding. You made me realize how totally not alone I really am. I have said it many times--you are the best.

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I was sitting in the doctor's office masked up and grateful I was the only one in the waiting room.  Then he walked in.  Oh no I thought--here we go again.

Last week, this same young man had come in the office properly masked per the notice on the door.  He checked in, then sat in a seat with his back to the receptionist and pulled his mask down to cover his chin. He looked at me directly almost daring me to say something.

What???  We were a good 10 feet apart but his arrogance got to me.  Fortunately, he was called in rather quickly. As he got up, he again put his mask on.

I wondered why there is such resistance to the masks.  Anyway, here he was again. What luck.

This time he kept the mask on. Someone had evidently gotten through to him but he fidgeted and fussed with it constantly. He would pinch the nose piece then shake his head and pinch it again.  Finally he whipped off his glasses and sighed deeply.

Then it hit me.

"Your glasses keep fogging up don't they?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "It is driving me nuts."

"There is a way to keep that from happening." I offered.

He immediately showed interest.

I told him that he could rub dish soap on the lenses, both sides, then set it aside for about 15 minutes to dry.  After it dried, he should take a soft cloth and polish the lenses.

"And that works?" he asked hopefully.

"Sure does for me. I use to have the same problem." I assured him.

He smiled and for a second I thought he was going to get up and give me a hug.

Instead, he laughed a little and just said, "Thank you. Now maybe I can handle this mask thing."

So I had judged the original episode as defiance. I had seen it as a kind of,  'you can't tell me what to do and besides, I am young and have no real worries'.   I was so wrong. The guy was just completely annoyed by the constant fogging of his glasses.

Not saying there aren't some folks out there for whom it is a defiance thing but there may also be some for whom it is just really uncomfortable.  I will try to be more patient in the future and not be so quick to judge.

A quick shout out to Walmart employees.

When I went to pick up my prescription after the doctor visit, I kind of got the giggles.  The girl waiting on me had the usual mask on but she also had a 5 X 7 badge pinned to her chest.  It showed a large picture of her--without a mask. That is so we know what they look like in real life. What a cool idea.

I told her I thought  we all needed one of those. She laughed when I mentioned that for 2 months I have not been recognized nor have I recognized another shopper.  Walmarts in tiny towns are often social hubs. Not so much anymore. Shaggy hair and masks are great disguises.

Hope you all had a pleasant and thoughtful weekend remembering those who gave all.  Perhaps you even got to enjoy some family or friends for a change.
Please stay safe.

53 comments :

  1. Didn't know about the dish soap trick to stop eyeglass fogging. Thanks for that very useful trick, Patti! Sounds like you've turned the doctor into a new fan of your's.

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    1. Florence,
      I use to use it in Florida when going from heat to cool would often fog them up.

      Delete
  2. What a really sweet share, thanks Patti! And I know just how that young man feels—I miss walking into my grocery store without fogged up glasses, I’m going to try your trick tomorrow. Also liked what you said about our “disguises”, my last haircut was the day after Valentines Day and I don’t recognize MYSELF when I walk past a mirror! Hope you have a sunny Memorial Day :-)

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    1. Doug,
      We really have all changed our appearance lately. Guess it would be a good time to rob a bank:))
      Just be sure to use a dish soap that doesn't also have a lotion for your hands. That won't work.

      Delete
  3. I am always amazed when I walk into a place masked and incognito and someone calls me by name. And boy do I ever need a haircut! Good on you for helping that young man, along with those readers who didn't already know this trick. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      I can tell that you probably all ready use it. You posted that picture of you as you go out and I wouldn't have recognized you. Maybe in person.

      Delete
  4. Hmm. I haven't experienced my glasses fogging from wearing a mask but it's good to know.
    My sister in law sent me a picture of herself holding her first grandchild. It made me wonder what all those wee ones born in a pandemic are going to think when they realize other people actually have faces.

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    1. Olga,
      Oh my, I hadn't thought about what newborns would think. They only see people besides their immediate family all masked up. Interesting.

      Delete
  5. I liked the idea of the photo badge! And, yes, I think we are all too quick to judge sometimes.

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    1. Anni,
      Those badges would be handy. I have seen tee shirts with a persons picture and name on it but the badge would be swap able.

      Delete
  6. Good lesson there patti. I'm often to quit to judge people myself and need a reminder. Ray

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    1. Ray,
      Good to see you. Thanks for stopping by. And yes, I am guilty of that and more so these days. I am working on that.

      Delete
  7. Okay the glasses thing first. The BEST way and we tried soap but didn't work. To put the top high enough so that your glasses sit on the mask. No more fog!!! EVER. :-)
    You did good getting to the root cause with this young man. Good job!

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    1. Margaret,
      It has always worked for me. Did you use a soap with a lotion also in it? That will not work. Anyway, using our glasses as an anchor is a great idea. Now they have options.

      Delete
  8. What a lovely story, Patti. Just the kind of story we all need these days. I'm going to have to try some of these foggy glasses ideas. It drives me crazy too. Glad all is well there.

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    1. robin,
      If one idea doesn't work for you try another. It really is annoying. I use to have that problem in Florida a lot and the soap worked.

      Delete
  9. So right ... be not so quick to judge. A good lesson for all of us.

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    1. Tom,
      I know it is easy these days to jump the gun. We have so many preconceived opinions now days thanks to all the press.

      Delete
  10. I didn't know about the dish soap trick, but putting my glasses on after putting on my mask and putting the glasses over the mask seems to work for me. It does depend on the mask though.
    I will try to be less quick to judge maskless faces.

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    1. Linda,
      So glad you found something that works. Sadly today it is easy to look at bare faces as being the enemy that wishes us harm. Not always the case as I learned.

      Delete
  11. I guess there is a reason for everything. My husband complains that masks are so uncomfortable, he hates them, and if he goes to a concert, he is going to bare his nose so he can breathe better. He will cover his mouth, though.

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    1. gigi,
      I have seen people not covering their noses and wondered if the mask was doing its job. Maybe if he got one of the lighter paper ones he could breathe better. I know that helps me.

      Delete
  12. Great post and I am glad your Sunday feeling was short lived. Thank you for sharing, it helped me and many others.

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    1. Nawm,
      Thanks so much. Me too glad it was brief. Happy if it helped another.

      Delete
  13. The dish soap trick works on the inside of your windshield in the winter too.

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    1. Celia,
      Thank you so much. That is good to know.

      Delete
  14. What a great outcome to the "mask issue" experience.

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  15. Fogging up isn't my problem with masks. My glasses SLIDE OFF when wearing a mask... so much so that I've learned to take my glasses off when I have to wear the mask. Someone said it was because my glasses don't have those little nose guards like some do?? Maybe... ?? I wonder if anyone else has that problem?

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    1. Rian,
      Haven't heard of that before and hope someone can give you an answer.

      Delete
  16. I did not know that soap trick. I hate masks for the same fogging reason, luckily for me I am able to stay home and not go to doctor or dentist until the need for masks is over. Not many here wear them anyway, since we were virus free until today when a woman from interstate tested positive. We should have kept the borders closed..

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    1. River,
      Now that is news you don't want to hear. Hope it is a random--only case. It is hard to get comfortable these days with new things popping up daily.

      Delete
  17. What a great lesson about not judging other people. I wear glasses and have never had the fogging up problem others complain about while wearing glasses. I do clean them every morning with eye glass cleaner and now I'm wondering if that's the reason why I don't.

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    1. Jean,
      That could be it for the soaping does actually clean them besides leaving a film. Maybe your cleaner does the same. Hey, if it is working, that is good.

      Delete
  18. I guess you would call me one of the defiant ones. I hate wearing a mask. It brings back memories of those horrible Halloween masks we use to wear where you got all sweaty behind them and couldn't breath. I get claustrophobia wearing a mask to the point I get very high anxiety. So I do have a reason why I don't like wearing them. If I'm asked to, I will, but only under those conditions. I will try your suggestion, though, since my glasses do get all foggy when I have to wear a mask.

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    1. Snickelfritz,
      Well you are not doing it just to claim your defiance of rules but have a legit excuse. I have no problem with folks like that as long as they stay away from me. Hope the soap at least gets rid of the fog.

      Delete
  19. I’m amazed when I see people driving around town wearing a mask. Why? I’ve also seen people walking on their own with no one around and they’re wearing a mask. When this is over, they are going to have some weird tans. It’s pitiful that wearing a mask has become so political.

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    1. Kay,
      Could be they just forgot to remove it. I know I am usually sitting in my car before starting it cause I am forgetting to take it off.
      It has become political hasn't it?

      Delete
    2. Once I put my mask on when I’m driving to make pickups or to drive thru restaurants where I’ll need it to interact with people giving me my order, pay the bill, I just leave my mask on — no big deal. But I wear one of the paperish surgical masks gifted to me by unknown to me Asian couple. Those masks are intended for one use with one patient then to be disposed when I worked in hosp./medical settings. But I have mine on such a short time with each nearby outing I reuse it — leave it in the car to bake in the high temps which build up inside.

      Delete
    3. Joared,
      Interesting point. I went to a drive thru for the first time yesterday and wondered if I should put on my mask. I didn't but should have. Thanks, think I will if I do it again.

      Delete
  20. We often jump to conclusions about others behaviors that are erroneous. Your description is a perfect example and should be a cautionary tale that we might want to give people the benefit of the doubt before judging them. Good you were able to give him a solution to resolve his foggy glasses issue.

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    1. Joared,
      While there are some out there just not wearing them out of defiance, many have a problem wearing the masks with claustrophobia, hard to breathe or just foggy. Now I will try not to judge them all the same.

      Delete
  21. Amazing what a little conversation can do ... good for you for sharing that tip with him!

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    1. Awkward Widow,
      Communication. Sometimes we just forget how important it is. I was relating the story to my doctor whose office this occurred in and he said he would try my tip that his fogged up all the time too. You would think a Dr. would have all ready known about it.

      Delete
  22. Great post and great idea for keeping glasses from fogging. Sometime our initial thoughts are wrong.

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    1. Annie,
      Thanks. Too often it is easy to lump everyone into the same mold. I know better but still do on occasion.

      Delete
  23. I find wearing a mask annoying I have to say and keep fiddling with it, but of course you aren't meant to touch the mask because if you do, it won't work properly. Also not only do I wear a mask but I have a folded piece of kitchen paper inside because apparently it's all about the layers. The more layers the better it works.

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    1. Joey,
      I really respect those like you who still wear the masks even when they are uncomfortable doing it. Thank you.

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    2. I had three CT scans today. The mask made the experience even more difficult. But you do what you need to do. My husband agrees with the soap and he has worn glasses since he was 6. (A VERY long time.)

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    3. Carolyn,
      I hope your scans bring only good news. Do take care.

      Delete
  24. Thanks for the anti fog type while wearing a mask. Stay well and safe.

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