F
ive essential “world navigation” factors that I would not have understood three ( or even two) months ago.
1. When I wear my mask, my glasses fog up. I tried adjusting the straps, but it seems to be a feature, not a bug, of this system. It is much worse when it’s cold out, but they fog up pretty much all the time. This leaves me with a dilemma. I can put up with it and wait for them to clear after each breath or try to breathe very slowly so that the fogging is reduced, or I can take my glasses off and see a little less clearly while exposing my eyes to potential exposure.
Another issue with the mask is the inability to smile at someone. I have needed to develop my Tyra Banks “smizing” (smiling with the eyes), but I don’t know if this comes off as friendly or deranged.
2. When I buy produce in the store, there is no way to open the little plastic bags produce bags. In best of times this is a pain as one struggles to find the correct end to open and then usually needs to lick one’s fingers to finally pry it apart. Now try the same using gloves! I have opted for pre-packaged vegetables and fruits as much as possible.
3. When someone drifts within 4′ of me, I have to suppress the urge to scream. Once again I see this often on the rare occasions when I go to the supermarket. People are so well behaved standing in line 6′ apart waiting to get in and again while waiting in line for the checkstand. However, moving through the aisles, too many people seem to believe that movement protects them from infection, as if the germs cannot jump from one moving body to another, no matter how closely they pass.
4. When I take my nightly walk around the block, I have developed a subtle, but complex set of signals to tell oncoming pedestrians that I’m going to move into the street. I always work with the assumption that I’ll go into the street, because the streetwalker (hmmm never thought I’d call myself that) has the greater control of distance. Through nodding of my head to actual pointing, I always try to the let the other person know my intentions early so we don’t have the awkward street side tango.
5. I am extremely grateful for the women and men who work at stores and the pickup and drive through windows at restaurants. On the few occasions when I have gone, I find myself being artificially cheery and effusive in my thanks (a friend suggested that we conclude each transaction with “Thank you for your service”). Not saying this is a bad thing…just something I’ve noticed.
One more, as I’m writing this I’m hearing a siren of a fire truck or ambulance. I can’t hear this sound without wondering whether they are being called to transport a COVID patient to the hospital.
Be safe, be strong!