wThursday was a busy one for the family. I had some work to wrap up before the long weekend, and I went out to make our weekly supply run.
As I made the last stop on my errand list, I reached for my face mask and had this sudden panic: “Did I remember to put it on at the last store I visited???”
It had been a really quick stop and I started wracking my brain trying to remember if I had in fact put it on. Erin recently ordered some much nicer face masks, and it occurred to me that their being more comfortable also meant wearing them was a much less memorable experience. Some of the first masks I was wearing at the beginning of COVID pulled against my ears, majorly steamed my glasses or were in other ways less than comfy.
Being someone who is prone to anxiety, I started to fret a little, until my memory search landed on two important pieces. First, I remembered greeting the people watching the door, and it was a place that requires masks and I’m quite sure they would have said something if I wasn’t wearing a mask.
Second, I remembered talking a bit louder through my mask at checkout, because the cashier was behind plexiglass and I had trouble hearing her through her mask. Once I remembered that, I my creaky memory banks opened up and I also remembered taking the mask off as I stepped into the car. Just like that, my panic attack [eventually] went away.
But this whole experience got me thinking about a few things. First of all, for all the hubbub out how restrictive and uncomfortable masks are, I personally am now at a point when I’m not all that aware of whether I’m wearing one or not. And second, I know something has become normalized when I’m forgetting to do it. The same thing holds true for trash day, taking my daily vitamins and leaving the house with my wallet.
I am hoping that as it becomes more normal, masks will be less of a dividing issue. As Westley in The Princess Bride says, “It’s just that they’re terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.”
Later in the afternoon, we stopped by Grandma and Pop-Pop’s house for some pizza and snow cones! Grandma had gotten a sweet new Snoopy Snow Cone Machine. I always wanted one of those as a kid, and it was cool to see the kids get just as excited about it. Grandma was kind enough to make them some yummy snow cones, which they loved. Amazing what a fun treat a little shaved ice and orange juice can be for little kids.
We enjoyed a nice evening sitting outside, and then Erin, Henry and I headed home. Amelia got to stay for a special sleepover, with Henry set to join in the next day. We knew Henry was super tired because he didn’t really put up an argument about it. The three of us zonked out pretty quickly when we got home. It was a long short work, and we’re looking forward to a long weekend.
