On a shopping trip to Aldi this morning, an elderly gentleman called out to me as I was pushing my full trolley to my car.
‘Hello! Excuse me!’ he shouted.
I turned to him with a smile, which he could see because since the mandatory wearing of face masks ceased two and a half weeks ago, I’ve stopped wearing one in shops. It has been a blessed relief. I have struggled with wearing a mask for the last year and have great admiration for people who have to wear them for their jobs.
Back to the elderly gentleman. ‘Excuse me,’ said he. ‘But are masks still required to go in there? I’ve been waiting in my car for someone to come out who wasn’t wearing one, so that I could ask.’
‘It’s personal choice now,’ I said. ‘I stopped wearing one as soon as I could. I couldn’t breathe properly, so I am happy they are no longer law.’
The elderly gentleman’s face lit up. ‘Oh, I’m so glad,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t bear it. They are so stuffy, aren’t they? Made me panic a bit, too. Horrible things.’
I nodded. ‘Most people in there are still wearing them so you might feel a bit of the odd one out. But it’s fine. I’ve had no negative comments or experiences.’
‘And I’ll still keep my distance,’ said the elderly gentleman, almost as if asking permission, bless him.
‘Of course,’ said I. ‘To be honest, I always used to keep my distance before this Covid stuff happened. I’m not a pushy shopper. Never have been keen on crowds.’
He laughed. ‘I shall follow your example, then. Thank you!’ and off he headed to the shop entrance, a spring in his step. And I hope he felt that buzz of elation that I felt, too, on achieving my first uneventful supermarket visit without a mask.
What have we come to, that people are now anxious and scared to go about a regular and most basic activity such as shopping because of the potential reactions by others to the wearing, or not, of a mask? I have to say on my first maskless visit I felt slightly trepidatious that someone would challenge me, or be negative or abusive because, basically, I’m a nice person who wants people to like me. My fears were unfounded, thank goodness.
I understand why people want to continue wearing a mask if it makes them feel safe and comfortable. And that’s fine, although I miss the smiles and chats of pre-Covid shopping days, those human interaction, those most basic of connections. Having my face covered makes me feel anxious, panicky and catching at my breath. I thought I’d learn to cope, but I didn’t. Daft, isn’t it? But there it is. I hope never to feel like that again.
And to that end, I have bought a sunflower lanyard to carry in my bag as a discrete message to anyone who might get arsey because I’m not wearing a mask and they think I ought to be.
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