THE AGE OF PANDEMIC: CRACKS ARE SHOWING Chapter 6

Venturing out for the mandatory bi-weekly shopping expedition one notices that the folks are not as cheery as they were a few weeks ago when we all embarked on our madcap adventure against the invisible enemy. The comradery and we're in this together spirit is slowing dying as the long, boring quarantine days continue. Oh yes, the walkers are more determined and numerous, but they don't wave quite as enthusiastically as they used to and you feel them judging your car use with a look of derision and judgment.

Cashiers are not quite as cheery as the long hours, face masks and constant sanitizing are wearing them into mere nubs of their former selves. No more jokes about am I buying stuff or robbing you as I peer over my cowboy scarf. But at least they are not facing the horrible dilemma of meat processing employees who are being forced back to work by the coronavirus in chief. No doubt they must show proper enthusiasm and absolute fealty to the gods of pork, beef and chicken - the owners of the plants. Probably perform a ritual of gratitude that they have a job and then head into work, without proper protection, to work "cheek and jowl" with their fellow possible asymptomatic co-workers.  People in these plants are sick and dying but as long as the Tyson CEO gets his money who is there to care? No worries. If you call in sick you can be fired as employers are being assured they will not be held liable over people getting ill from their work. There's 40 years of my career absolutely rendered useless and unnecessary. Oh yes, did I mention these people could DIE if they go to work under the present conditions.

I had my own dose of the current ill humor (mine) with a gent who asked if they were requiring masks in the store.  "Yes" (it's the law bozo). Pulls out his fancy medical grade respirator and tells me mine is inadequate by law. Now we care about what is right. Do I say, sweetly, "I wear this to protect you and it is not intended to be medical grade, fit-tested ppe (you aforementioned Bozo) bless your judgmental little heart".  Nope I tell him everyone has an opinion and by the way, go to Hell. Both of us were probably much refreshed by the encounter. I know I was.

Ordered several fancy all-in-one neck/face/hairband/hat coverings in various patterns recently. We plan on wearing them for fishing, fashion and fumigation purposes. Also ordered some fishing line. Nothing special, just some 20 pound test line to use up a coupon. In these days of pandemic one would think the fancy mask pretenders would be a priority order.  Imagine the excitement when the box arrived within days with EXPEDITED written all over it! With trembling anticipatory fingers the box was opened to find...you guessed it, fishing line. Just think. Someone, somewhere determined that fishing line was so special it needed to be delivered quickly by overworked, underpaid FEDEX folks. The fact that it is available like, I don't know, everywhere was apparently lost on this unknown crazy person. C'est la vie.