The Mask is the Right Choice – For Me

Preparing to go into the grocery store, I sat in my car and perused through my masks.  I looked myself over and made my choice.

“I’ll pick the blue mask because it matches what I am wearing,” I thought and retrieved the chosen mask, storing the remaining masks back into the center console.  Once the mask was secured behind my ears, I stepped out and began walking towards the grocery store.

The mask has turned into an accessory.  When I realized masks were going to be a part of our lives now, I went to Amazon and ordered a handful of cloth masks in basic black for the family to use.  When “I can’t find a mask!” was said for the 100^th time (more like 20^th time, but just as annoying because of lack of effort), I decided to order more in a variety of colors.  Now we have masks in pinks, blues, florals, plaids, reds. 

You can really achieve any masked look you want!

I was unable to get lunchmeat during my last trip to the grocery store since there wasn’t any precut turkey available, the house favorite.  I could have stood in an hour-long lunchmeat line (I’ve done that twice, now), but instead, I chose option B: leave and enjoy that hour some other way.

Finding myself near the grocery store again, and with an extra time on my hands, I decided to make the stop and check again. Toasted turkey sandwiches would bring a smile to a couple of faces.

Walking some paces in front of me was a woman, slightly older than me.  She had her gym clothes on, and hair popped into a ponytail. Motherly looking.  Except she wasn’t wearing a mask.

I kept my respectful distance behind her and allowed her to get her cart first.  She placed her pocketbook in the front of her shopping cart and pulled it from the row of carts.  As she turned to steer her cart into the store, she looked at me, and I felt a “look.”

“Is the mask TOO matchy?” I thought, peering down at my shirt.

As she put her hand in her pocketbook, I thought she was retrieving her mask.  But she wasn’t.  Just her shopping list.  As we passed by the sign at the front of the store:

 I waited for her to put on her mask, but she didn’t.  She walked right passed the sign with indifference.

It was as she glided into the produce section, I realized she would not be wearing a mask at the store.

I am the least confrontational person on the planet.  The only place I can freely confront someone is in the form of road rage, for this reason, locked safely in my car.

I didn’t need to say anything to her, though.  At this point, if you are not wearing a mask, you stand out like a sore thumb.  I passed her through the lunchmeat section, and again in the dairy section on my way to the registers.  People saw her face.  I don’t know if anyone, employee or shopper, said anything to her.  But I left the store feeling annoyed at her.

I hated the masks at first, like many others.  I thought they were over the top and caused unnecessary fear.  I got over it.  Whatever it is going to take to stay safe and end this virus, I’m going to do. And I want others to do the same!

I came home and checked in with Bob in the basement.  I gave him my, “Can you believe it” story to which he replied, “Maybe she couldn’t wear a mask.  Maybe she has a breathing disorder or something.”

Feeling ashamed, I Googled reasons why someone can’t wear a mask.  Asthma, autism, PTSD, severe anxiety, claustrophobia, any disability that prevents someone from removing their mask in an emergency – there was a list.  Thinking back, I did read posts in autism groups of a caregiver being sent away from a store and then the grounds because her autistic son was unable to mask. The police were called, and kind enough to give the woman and her son a ride home. I don’t know how she got her groceries.  There was lots of comments offering words of comfort for their distressing adventure in a unique situation.

When mask-wearing first became a thing, I was concerned about people policing each other.  And here I was mentally doing the same thing I was afraid of in the beginning. 

The woman at the store looked fine to me, although I don’t know her story in the least.  For all I know, that woman had a note from her doctor tucked away in her pocketbook explaining why she could not wear a mask.

I also think of all those that NEED others to mask for their own health. I mask for you, and wish for others to do the same.

I choose to wear a mask.  I choose for my kids to wear a mask.  I choose to stay away from unmasked people.  I would prefer it if the un-maskers would stay home but understand everyone has needs.  I will also think twice before I jump to a conclusion.  I can control my own actions. That’s it.