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.

***************************

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.