May 11, 2020-
I have observed, as life progresses, some things re-open and others maintain their COVID19 restrictions, that there is some fraying taking place. Yesterday, on a Mother’s Day visit downtown, I stopped at a frozen yogurt establishment. I took my place in line, behind a gentleman who was wearing a mask. A mother with two boys in tow ignored the line and went to the ordering table. There, she was immediately served, by the teenaged clerk. The mother looked up at the man glaring at her, from the head of the line, and offered a lame excuse for having jumped ahead-something about being pre-occupied with the menu. This further incensed the man, who asked to speak to the manager/owner. After registering his complaint, he called to the women who were with him and they left, sans treats. I got my order in, and was actually served before the mother and sons.
Things are happening, as businesses re-open, in random order. I went to my haircutting place, which re-opened today, and made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I got my car washed, this afternoon, and was surprised to see that the lady who used to work at the dry cleaners, where I had been taking my winter coats, was now the attendant at the car wash. Turns out, the dry cleaning shop had closed, due to a rent increase. So, my cleaning goes to another shop, on the north side of town.
Traffic has picked up, and with it, the presence of those who are not comfortable in traffic, and have to pass as many people as they can, as quickly as possible. This will, of course, continue for quite a while. Line jumping may happen, though here in Prescott, it is the exception, rather than the rule. There were 20 of us in line last night, for picking up take out orders. A man who had a little boy in tow was allowed ahead of us, to use the establishment’s restroom, but all others took their places, without any fuss. Then, there are those, at pick-up stations like the Farmers’ Market, last Saturday. who scoured the line of cars and served their friends first, leaving the rest of us to appeal to the market director. There will be several such anomalies, as we move forward. I pray that patience wins out.
And sequestration fatigue sets in. I rather suspect that everybody is so excited to being “let out” that there is some level of line jumping just out of “me first now” excitement. I wonder, though, as people realize that there have been such changes as the cleaners closing, and many other stores, small and large, if there won’t be a lot of frustration simply because of the changes that people don’t realize.
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It’s a new world, gradually emerging. Those ,whose response to the re-opening is “Yee haw” ,are going to be rather disappointed.
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We have always had those who feel entitled and that the rules do not apply to them – but the pandemic has put a spotlight on that behavior. Perhaps they will change but I’m not counting on it. The majority however are compassionate and friendly and willing to cut some people some slack when there is demonstrated need… Perhaps the best response is to smile more.
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One of the things I’ve learned, over the years, is that when a person doesn’t learn a social lesson , it keeps presenting itself, until it IS learned.
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