Pandemic Watch: Forgotten mask

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About a week ago, I was walking to my usual Friday evening destination. I bumped into an acquaintance heading to the same location. I was wearing a mask. He was not. He is a stickler for the personal protective equipment. We exchanged hellos. He quickly apologized for forgetting to wear his mask. We both knew he’d receive a brand new one when we arrived. He was very embarrassed. 

I reassured him not to worry. Even mask obsessed me accepted his mistake. I knew he forgot. I once forgot my mask and walked down a few steps in my building heading to the gym. I raced back to get it. And I mean raced back to my apartment to grab one of my many masks and was back on the proper trail.

These days some people are letting their guard down. Some are not.  But even the strictest of us forget our masks. Sometimes simple distractions like running in and out from the incinerator or to the mailbox are when forgetfulness occurs. I rarely get mail. For the record, that hasn’t happened to me.  Sometimes when running in and out and realized you forgot your gym gloves or lock.  Often you wind up pulling the mask off while you grab your forgotten items.

So why do we forget to put them back on? We can dig deep into this. Sort of like when your high school English teacher would make you deeply explain “Macbeth.”  Remember when your teacher wanted you to ponder what story Shakespeare was telling?

So when we forget to wear our masks is it an honest mistake? Were we so caught up in other things that it slipped our minds? Are annoyed that it’s been over a year and we are still in the same situation?  Are we not wearing the annoying masks out of protest?  Did you get your first or second vaccine shot and feel immune? My first shot is tomorrow.  The list is endless.

On a side note, quite often when I get home I don’t take it off. I keep wearing it. When I finally do remove it, I feel like something is missing. I feel not fully dressed.

Like everyone, I dream of the day we can burn the masks.

Pandemic Watch: Shopping before a predicted snowstorm

mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/pandemic-watch-shopping-before-a-predicted-snowstorm/

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

Pandemic Watch: Keeping it clean

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Pandemic Watch: Rediscovering NYC
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Pandemic Watch: Gloves
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Pandemic Watch: Back to the City
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/pandemic-watch-back-to-the-city
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https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/939
“Pandemic Watch: What will we do with our masks and gloves at the end?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/22/pandemic-watch-what-will-we-do-with-our-masks-and-gloves-at-the-end
Pandemic Watch, Staying in Shape,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/17/pandemic-watch-staying-in-shape
“Pandemic Watch: Community groups stepping up,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/pandemic-watch-community-groups-stepping-up
“Pandemic Watch: Have masks replaced fuzzy dice in windshields?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/pandemic-watch-have-masks-replaced-fuzzy-dice-in-windshields
“Pandemic Watch: How will we be entertained?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/08/pandemic-watch-how-will-we-be-entertained
“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/pandemic-watch-communicating-via-video
“Single Life”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life
“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”
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“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember
“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”
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“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”
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“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”
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“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/pandemic-watch-will-my-nephew-ever-know-how-good-it-was
“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/pandemic-watch-what-will-happen-when-i-get-released-on-parole
“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”
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“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”
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“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”
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“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “
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“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits
“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime
“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but
“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608
“Trashy Parks,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks