I never thought that this could happen to me being such an avid supporter of wearing the mask.
Believe it or not, I rushed out of my car, leaving my mask on the passenger seat to pick up just one article in the store. As I had to wait in line for my tern, I took the number nine, which would be the next to be served.
Standing around and waiting, I did not notice anyone staring at me, no one said anything to me, no one pointed out my error, no signal, no one did anything.
I eventually realized that I was without a mask, covered my mouth and nose with my small shopping bag I had, dashed to the Exit door to procure my mask.
I felt embarrassed , even stupid.
Months ago, I was in the same store, of course with my mask on.
A lady smilingly motioned to me that my mask did not completely cover my nose. I responded, pulled up the mask, smiled at her and nodding my head to say thank you. She did her citizenship duty.
But it was different on this occasion, where some people must have noticed me without the mask, but did not make it their business to tell me or even report it to a store employee.
What I believe is that the animosity between the pro-masks and anti-masks has reached such a proportion that pro-mask people no longer care what could happen to the anti-mask group, fearing good intention may be construed as confrontation.
Does this mean that these anti-mask people will only learn the hard way?
Teaching experts all agree that the best way to learn is through practical experience, even though at times the cost to learn outweighs the learning.
Should you allow the infant after several NO! NO! NO! to touch the hot stove in order to learn not to? NO!
There are some things that we must learn vicariously and unfortunately some people will never learn. The good news however, was when I returned to the store with mask on, number 15 was being served. I showed the saleslady my number nine and she immediately accepted and served me.
However we must continue to be politely vigilant,some, like myself will appreciate the intervention.
THANKS, THANKS, THANKS.
But goodness and kindness are not extinct. A few weeks ago I was traveling very slowly on a one-way street hoping to find somewhere to park. A young man walking in the opposite direction waved to me. I stopped and he walked over and told me that if I were looking for a parking spot , that he was going to move his car and I could take his place.
He waited for me to drive around the bloc and drove after I was securely parked. KUDOS TO HIM.
The very next day I was driving on another street to deliver an item. As I drove into a vacant spot, the driver behind me also stopped , opened her window and informed me that it was a no-parking zone and furthermore the cops were issuing tickets on this very street.
I thanked her, quickly delivered the item and moved on. KUDOS TO HER.
As you may have noticed, one outcome of Covid 19 is the high spike in prices of our groceries. While I was in one of these stores I picked up two oranges at 99c each. This price was higher than what I normally pay at my regular fruit and vegetable store. On reaching the cashier she hesitated, looked in her price book and announced to me that the price was $1.45, each.
I calmly refused to buy them at that price. As I was preparing to pay for the other items, I noticed the cashier and the lady immediately behind me whispering.
The cashier then turned to me, put the oranges in my bag and said I could have them. I protested. Then she told me that the lady right behind me wants me to have them as a gift from her. The very talkative cashier insisted , and I accepted and expressed my gratitude. KUDOS TO HER FOR SUCH GENEROSITY.
The lesson here is, there are still good and kind people doing what they do best.
After all those experiences, I felt so empowered that I recognized myself doing some unusually kind acts. What goes around comes around.
It is the season to be good and kind. So let me take the opportunity to wish Brother Egbert (managing editor) his family, and all the CONTACT staff and readers, a wonderful holiday season. I must also thank the editor for the opportunity to share my thoughts with the readership.
The very best to all, stay safe and as we say in Jamaica: WALK GOOD IN 2022.
