So, wear a stinkin’ mask…

…if that doesn’t exert you too much.

Here I am in my blogging sanctum sanctorum, my basement of course, all masked up but only for illustrative purposes. I don’t quite get it when I see people in their car alone with a mask.

I stay pretty close to home these days but venture out to Lowe’s or Kroger’s when we need stuff. I’m under authority here in my domicile and a room needs painting; thus, not one but several trips to Lowe’s to get the right color and all that.

I wear a mask. Thus far, no one has screamed at me, looked askance at me, or sneered at me for doing so. Lucky me.

With a mask no one knows if you are scowling or smiling although the eyes give you away at times.

I’m standing at the paint counter at Lowe’s. A lady looks at me and says, “Hey, it’s great to see you.”

I’ve never seen this lady before in my life. She is sans mask and I step back.

“So, how did you know it was me with my mask on?” I ask her.

“I used see you in Publix all the time when I worked there.”

I might visit the local Publix about once every other year.

I am about to correct her misidentification but she adds, “You were always one of the nice ones who didn’t gripe and complain and chew on me about prices or the lines or anything.”

I let the compliment stand. Happy to be misidentified as a nice guy.

How is it that people think it acceptable to be rude and snippy to a $12-$15/hr cashier? What kind of society is it when you are singled out for not dumping on a clerk or cashier?

My late father used to declare that his least favorite people to deal with in business were pastors. He came to that view honestly, sharing many tales with me about dishonest, overly pious, and condescending pastors; pastors who expected others to just give them stuff for free. We can do better. But, at the moment I’m a hero to this Publix cashier, whoever she was and because of whoever she thinks I am.

Wear a mask. It won’t kill you.

__________________________

Astute readers will recognize the print on the wall behind me. It’s an old copy of “Lee and his generals,” a rather famous print, Lost Cause on steroids. It’s worth a couple of hundred dollars. The statues are coming down but you can have my copy of “Lee and his generals” when you pry my cold, dead fingers from it. Or, offer me $250 and it’s yours.

I recommend that the other highly woke Voices team post pictures of themselves all masked up.

That’s my Remington orange hat, BTW. Has nothing to do with Clemson or UT. My nod to the Second Amendment.