Masking Rudeness
There is so much I don't understand
about the anti-mask sentiment.
Restrictions have been gone for a month or more
and although I usually have a mask in the car,
I sometimes forget to grab it
so I can wear it.
It seems like a small kindness
for going out to public places
where staff have to deal
with a constant cycle of people.
COVID hides, yo.
And some people are in a more dangerous position
(at work, in life, in their body)
than others.
Sometimes I'm the only one in a mask,
sometimes I forget mine,
and SEE the only person in a mask,
and I just want to say,
"Thank you!!"
Going into the post office today,
A grizzled white man
wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat
groused,
"How's that mask working out for you?"
with a sneer as he passed me on his way out.
"Oh? You WANT my cough?
Come on back I'll try to give it to you directly!"
I say with a hidden-by-a-mask smile
and an overly cheerful tone.
Looking back
a happily-pleased
(and much more polite)
"Excellent!
I'm making sure I don't spread my mysterious dry cough.
Thank you for asking!"
would have been the slightly-better choice.
But snark-infused sarcastic good-cheer
is my natural defense!
Which, actually,
come to think of it,
that second-thought may also be
snark-infused sarcastic good-cheer...
....
I just wonder why
he's got to reach out with negativity
just because I exist
while making a choice
he would not.
What purpose does that serve?
You've apparently been to WAR, man
(says his Veteran's status ballcap at least).
Aren't you ready for peace, yet?
Then again,
I admit....
I don't necessarily help the situation
with my retaliatory responses.
Sometimes I'm sorry, world -
that it's a
sorry world
sometimes.
I'll keep trying.
about the anti-mask sentiment.
Restrictions have been gone for a month or more
and although I usually have a mask in the car,
I sometimes forget to grab it
so I can wear it.
It seems like a small kindness
for going out to public places
where staff have to deal
with a constant cycle of people.
COVID hides, yo.
And some people are in a more dangerous position
(at work, in life, in their body)
than others.
Sometimes I'm the only one in a mask,
sometimes I forget mine,
and SEE the only person in a mask,
and I just want to say,
"Thank you!!"
Going into the post office today,
A grizzled white man
wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat
groused,
"How's that mask working out for you?"
with a sneer as he passed me on his way out.
"Oh? You WANT my cough?
Come on back I'll try to give it to you directly!"
I say with a hidden-by-a-mask smile
and an overly cheerful tone.
Looking back
a happily-pleased
(and much more polite)
"Excellent!
I'm making sure I don't spread my mysterious dry cough.
Thank you for asking!"
would have been the slightly-better choice.
But snark-infused sarcastic good-cheer
is my natural defense!
Which, actually,
come to think of it,
that second-thought may also be
snark-infused sarcastic good-cheer...
....
I just wonder why
he's got to reach out with negativity
just because I exist
while making a choice
he would not.
What purpose does that serve?
You've apparently been to WAR, man
(says his Veteran's status ballcap at least).
Aren't you ready for peace, yet?
Then again,
I admit....
I don't necessarily help the situation
with my retaliatory responses.
Sometimes I'm sorry, world -
that it's a
sorry world
sometimes.
I'll keep trying.