4699 Naked Without Your Mask

 

It was Halloween eve back last October, a Friday. They put a sign up on the door to the bank. It said, “No masks!” Of course not. Who wears a mask into a bank?  

 

Now the sign on the same door says, “no admittance if you’re not wearing a mask.”

 

Times change.

 

Sometimes, change is temporary.  This time, maybe not.

 

Are we going to need masks this coming Halloween eve?

 

Chances are the answer is yes.  Now we may ask… how long do we have to put up with this nonsense?  But conversely, we also can ask “when we don’t have to do it anymore, will we continue anyway?” (Or anywayS as is too often substituted.)

 

I refer you to the early days of auto seatbelts.  At first, they were an encumbrance. Then we started getting used to them. Now, admit it: if you’re a diligent user, you feel naked if you climb into the driver’s seat or the front passenger seat and don’t buckle up.

 

Yes, some people don’t wear belts and don’t feel naked. And a certain element doesn’t wear masks, but we haven’t yet learned to ostracize them.  

 

We don’t go peering into stopped cars to see if belts are in place.  That would be gauche.  But not wearing a mask is like not wearing your pants. Or -- at least for now -- it should feel that way.

 

So, even if we don’t need them in some far-off time ahead, we’re going to feel at least funny if not naked without them.

 

And, by the way, if you walk into the bank wearing a ski mask, even a ski mask with a covid mask covering your mouth and nose, you’re going to raise suspicions.  Even if it’s cold as a broken pipe winter in Texas.

 

SHRAPNEL: 

--We have designer masks with all kinds of nifty printed slogans and designs.  How is it we don’t have the same art with auto seatbelts?  What are the homebound arts and embroiderers waiting for, an invitation?

 

--The Mr. Potatohead toy is going gender neutral.  Its new name will be “Potatohead.”  And you can compose the make-up of your potato family using any variation you choose.

 

--Mercifully, Barbie became multiracial years ago. She’s not just a blonde, white girl anymore… she’s available in a whole menu of skin tones. But do we now have to re-think the relationship of Barbie and Ken?

 

I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®

Any Questions? wesrichards@gmail.com

© WR 2021