I’ve been trying to do my part when venturing out by wearing a surgical mask.
I’m not doing very well I’ll admit, wearing it more like a blue collar around my neck.
The discomfort, feeling as if you’re smothering, is reason enough never to go into the medical field.
Of course where would we be then, my shallowness making an unattractive appearance.
It’s now a rule in New York, you must wear one when out, if you’re not 6 feet apart.
So the team player that I am makes another attempt fastening it on, wondering if I really need to go out after all, cluing you in to how spoiled you are.
Oh fuck it, I say, as I leave it swaying, rubbing against my hoodie as I walk. I do my best to avoid those coming towards me with masks of their own, some still without, courtesy being key, patience a close second.
I needed an airing after being in from 7 a.m. till 4, walking boldly down Park ready to do battle with anyone who minds my faux masked face, my own patience wearing thin.
Then I see a little boy, 5 or 6, happily walking with his mom who, short of Saran Wrap, is protected to the hilt.
“Hey lady,” he says, “you know who I am?”
“No, who?” I ask, always stopping for a kid.
“I’m Spider Man.”
And indeed he was, wearing the mask I gather he wore on Halloween. 
Kids, the best, like a breath of fresh air.
SB
I’ll admit it .. you got me. I wasn’t sure which way you would go with this post, You strung me out as I took the bait … then pow … nope … smile with a kid. Well done. Smile together!
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Kids and dogs, they set you straight every time. Living in the moment, reminding you to lighten up and enjoy the sunshine.
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FYI …Rained all day here … wondering if that’s your day tomorrow.
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Yup…it’s today…sorry for the tardy response. I turned off Mac and read myself to sleep. It’s raining from my window. You can see it falling beneath the street lamp since it’s still dark in these parts. It’s Friday, that feels like another Sunday that tomorrow will turn into another Sunday. I now know how Rapunzel felt in her tower, just with shortish hair that, the rate it’s going will be her length in no time.
Good morning Frank. 🙂
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Good morning. Our rain was all day … So keep reading.
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PS Sorryless would say…well played. 🙂
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And that was the unmasked truth!
Even if stores were open, you wouldn’t be able to find a Halloween mask to use instead of a surgical one. Wouldn’t it be fun, though, if adults could wear their heroes faces to shield themselves?
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I’d want to go as Goofy. I think then I might actually feel comfortable. Unmasked did you say? Since you asked.
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I have no idea what mask I might choose. My life is like an open book, and everyone reads me well.
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You’re a classic Anne. 🙂
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You wear your mask at half mast.
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You’re the only one who my title’s wordplay. Naturally. 🙂
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I try to notice titles now. I used to skim over them and realized I was missing a fair bit doing that. You are very clever.
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I always attempt to come up with a witty title, but they’re far and few between. sigh
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Your titles are the best! Months ago a blogger wrote that she struggled with titles. Mine are not particularly impressive like yours, but they come easily.
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Impressive? Please. Gone With The Wind Was Impressive. Now that’s a book I could read again. Love the opening when Scarlet is eating with the Tarleton Twins, and one says to her…Miss Sca-let, can we take bob-ecue with you?
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Yes, impressive. I don’t argue with my brain.
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Oh, you’re impressive too there Madam. I’m always AMAZED at your word throws, those vernacular fast balls you toss across the plate Yogi Berra couldn’t even catch. I can see your brain in pinstripes.
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A MAIZE field? That’s corny! You imagine formal pinstripes, but I see everyday seersucker.
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I’ll always be a SUCKER for a nice, worsted wool.
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Talk about a fast ball! You are the quick one. Is that the WORST you can do?
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I can see, I can never pull the WOOL over your eyes.
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Wait a cotton-pickin’ minute! I know you wouldn’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. Let’s go TULLEing down the avenue together.
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Sounds as if you SATIN something.
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Groan!
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Groangrain? Hmm.
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You’re good!
RIBBON me again??
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Just trying to follow the THREAD.
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We better BIAS some coffee.
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Maybe later, I’m a little HEMMED in at the moment.
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You’ll need to SELVAGE something of the day.
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I HAVE MY SELFAGE wise to blame.
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KNOT so. You and I don’t play the blame game.
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I’m TIED to my opinions I’m afraid, even if the BLAME is LAME.
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Let good cheer be aBOUNDing!
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How astOUNDing. 🙂
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DAM!ASK me how I can be a material witness.
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CASHMEREly can be the problem.
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ANNEGORA is better, don’t you think?
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Awe…keep that sunny RAYON, ANNE stop by when you can.
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Keep on ragGING;HAMmer it on me.
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Is that your way of saying…SCREW you?
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It must be. Ask HEM; ALLOWANCEs must be made.
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HEM haws too much to get a straight answer making me WINCE.
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I give up. Got lost in all the puns!!
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You must be bored. As for me, I enjoyed the volley more than I can say. 🙂
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I enjoy volleying too, but I need a functioning brain to do it.
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My brain is a bit on the lam these days, so I understand, BUT…YOU’RE SO GOOD AT WORDPLAY. I’M FOREVER IMPRESSED. 🙂
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Forever is a LONG time.
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Oh, did I make an ERA?
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No, a man made an error. EPOCHeted the change.
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He’s not the CHANGE we want to see, now is he???
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I’m with you about the masks. I’ve only used one once or twice while out so far, and I find myself pulling it down so often to breath, to scratch my nose, to be able to talk clearly, it kind of gets pointless. I can’t stand the feeling of not getting a full breath.
Meanwhile, yes to kids. They seem to have a way.
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Yes they do. I understand the importance of not spreading this demon with no face, but no air is a deal breaker Mr. Midget. I wish we could be armed another way. sigh
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Back when this was first starting, I spent a lot of time in the ER and in hospital rooms with my mom. Every once in awhile she would insist I needed to wear a mask while I was there. I just couldn’t do it. Now, the only time I use one is when I go to the grocery store. And the whole time I’m in the store, I’m like you. It’s a neck accessory more than a face mask.
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I feel so bad for the essential workers who wear them all day. I don’t know how they do it. I’m ready to launch after 5 minutes.
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Ditto.
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I don’t know. At least Mr. Midget, you don’t have lipstick issues. I didn’t think before I beautied up, then donned my trusty mask, and suddenly looked like the Joker. Not a good look I’m afraid.
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Ah well, in my newly retired state, let’s just say my facial hair hasn’t been as neatly groomed as during my working life. I wonder what I look like with shoots of hair coming out of the mask at all angles. Call me Mark, by the way.
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I hope my Mr. Midgets haven’t offended you.
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Of course not. But I think we know each other well enough to dispense with the formalities. Right, Susannah?? 😉
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Right!
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Since I am required to wear one when I walk out my apartment door, I was a nice girl and did so yesterday! Thought I was goinna’ pass out inhaling my own hot air! I couldn’t decide which was worse…passing out or going to jail. Suffocation wasn’t my choice so I let it become my neckpiece! Rats…no adorable little tykes around to put a smile on my face. Kids are instant cures for what ails us…love ’em. Good to have some wonderful fresh air…it’s needed.
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That made me laugh…which would be worse…passing out or going to jail. sigh
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I am loathed to admit I don’t even HAVE any masks in my house. If they were to say I cannot leave the house without one, I am screwed. And let’s face it, forget about trying to buy any now – not that I really want to. I don’t even have any antibacterial products in my house, believing that over-sanitizing makes for weak immune systems. So, I’m screwed there, too because you can’t even buy any bleach, FFS. Which I want, For my white laundry.
Thank goodness for kids and dogs, indeed.
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I too believe in moderate means towards everything, including sanitizing. Although, if i wash my hands much more, they’re gonna fall off. I’ll then be a girl with just wrists.
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Tell me about it. Mind you, I’ve barely touched anything outside my home, so that helps!
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Every time I go out it’s like Nam.
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Ugh… I feel for you
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Just now I went to the basement to recycle since, I feel haughty tossing my trash down the shoot. A girl in a black mask was tooling from the laundry room. When she saw me, she slammed herself against the wall, like Spiderman, and ran into the elevator. I mean…REALLY?
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FFS! Some are ridonkulous.
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You thed it!!!
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You’re my new hero.
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How so?
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It was for Dale not having masks or anti-bacterial products at home. I don’t believe in the anti-bacterial stuff very much because as she suggested, they may do more harm than good.
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That’s the thing, no one seems to know the definitive right or wrong about anything concerning the virus. Every hour there’s a new, what I can only call, myth. It’s upsetting, annoying, frightening, chilling, and we’ll end with a great big…WTF!!!
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I wrote a post very early on titled Nobody is Right, Nobody is Wrong. I meant that in the context of how individuals react to this, not necessarily groups or politicians. But how each of us choose to process this and then act accordingly based on our own lives … I still think Nobody is right or wrong.
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They’d love you in Washington.
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Well, hold on, I did say I don’t apply this philosophy to politicians!
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Was thinking about your sassy moniker…King Midget…that I really happen to like that when I ponder why realize, it’s because it has that gangster, Damon Runyon, Guys and Dolls bent. I can see you in pinstripes and spats, a Caddie waitin at the curb with a dame primpin on the passenger side. Her writer has awakened. 🙂
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If only the origin of the name was anywhere to close to that. 😉
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Poetic License.
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True. But there needs to be a bear involved.
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I just love bears. Amy the Dancing Bear is a fave of mine penned by the one and only Carly Simon.
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Me or Susannah? Or both?
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YOU..:)
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Maybe it’s both of us!!
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He’s cute, that Mista Midget.
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True ’nuff!
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Are you a rappa? I kinda think you might be Dale, at least in yo hot’…
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Hahaha! Maybe deep down 😉
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I think so.
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🙂
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Oh, my sister feels the same way regarding the smothering, along with fogging glasses. She is in full “fuck this” mode until she goes to the store, then it’s the I just performed a heart transplant look.
You’re lucky; I haven’t even seen a child recently.
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Maybe you can borrow one, but you do have two dogs, a close second.
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A child? What’s that, I forgot what a child looks like! Rats. I was on my porch the other day when a lady (in mask) passed by at a safe distance, walking her dog…I yelled “Hello”…she thanked me. Said it was so nice seeing another person. Yeah, ain’t it the truth?
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These are strange times.
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Honestly now.
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I’ve the same reaction to these things.
I don’t care about the fact they happen to be contemporary fashion, they bug the hell out of me. I wear em, but I don’t have to be happy about it.
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Well said. 🙂
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You couldn’t hear the muffle of this damned mask, since I was typing my thoughts.
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We’ve all been tremendously humbled. i just hope those of us who survive in one piece, remember this limbo.
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I know I’m more humble, and appreciative of what I have.
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It’s all been rather highlighted during the Corona Challenge. Sounds like a race to be won, which I guess it is. The race for the cure.
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So much politics involved, it’s very disheartening. I mean, if they can’t put differences aside in this tremendous time of need, when will they?
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I was just reading how Nancy Pelosi is carrying on about the epidemic. Shut up. Spend your breath finding a vaccine Nancy.
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No kidding! I mean, fuck . . but it seems as if the contrast to Trump is the same difference right now. Not in all quarters, of course. There are plenty of governors doing amazing work under these circumstances.
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Trump looks as if he’s about to explode. He sure wasn’t equipped for this on any level. He’s no FDR. I find all of them except for Cuomo, who’s like Horatio Nelson holding New York together with his two hands, figments of my imagination. sigh…if only.
Mitch McConnell should be shackled to Nancy Pelosi in a playpen where they can’t get out. The bashing does nothing for me. We need help. We need unity. We need to be standing, shoulder to shoulder, not slinging shit across the Senate floor.
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Trump’s Cocktail Mixer:
2 Parts Lysol
1 Part Water
Add stupid to taste
You notice how politics has become like professional wrestling? Because it has.
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Wasn’t that amazing? I’m rather speechless, across the board.
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It was one of those moments where you go “What? No, no . . no. This didn’t just happen . .”
SNL is getting ripped off!
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I think he should be relieved of duty. I do.
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We should come up with another name for him.
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Did you watch Brad Pitt on SNL?
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“Who doesn’t love a miracle. But a miracle shouldn’t be Plan A”. True thing.
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Funny, right? It’s getting so bizarre across the board. Humor is our lifeboat.
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It’s always there for us.
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Humor…she’s our girl.
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Adorbs!!
Masks or not, all you New Yorkers are brave and resilient. I’m wondering if there’ll be another baby boom ten months from now – a re-boot of 1977s city blackout 🙂
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I remember that. I was living om Madison Avenue and 70th Street in a brownstone, a sublet that was pretty grand, if you didn’t mind the occasional mouse running through the living room. I had three people stay with me during that. We ate like gypsies and smoked pot till the lights went back on. I so remember.
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Haha… love it!
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You popped a file.
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Having a compromised immune system, I’ve grown accustomed to wearing masks when I travel. Of course, prior to COVID-19, I got looks like I was a terrorist or hold up artist. Anyway, it’s been ten years and I’ve worked out all the kinks on foggy glasses, hard to breathe, and itchy face. Here we are required to wear one when going out and cannot maintain a safe distance. All inside places are mandatory but exercise trails and paths are not. I don’t go out except for doctor appointments so the rules are good and I would follow them but it becomes a moot point. No one should mind your half mask as long as you stay away from them. If they say anything just say you had to cough that’s why you pulled it down. Kids always take us away to a better place. Stay safe.
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I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this for so long. We take so much for granted. And yes, kids. They put you back into neutral.
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In my case a medically induced compromised immume system is a blessing. Watching out for germs is a great trade off. 😁
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Your optimism is admirable John.
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😊
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Smiles back at ya John. Think of a slew in a conga line.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Hahahaha. Here’s something that may make you laugh https://youtu.be/jX-avuXc2Qs
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🙂
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Did you inform Spider Man that you were Super Thin Girl?
I saw a piece on the news regarding loss of identity and diminished interpersonal exchanges while wearing masks, gloves, and staying six feet away. We can chat from a distance but can’t see the expressions that often reveal so much more than words.
Keep that mask on. We want to keep you safe!
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How interesting Skinny. It does have a Sci Fi feeling, I must admit. I’m trying to stay in acceptance mode, but it’s challening. I truly believe it will be okay, just maybe not today. Optimism is needed. I sure wish the media would adopt that sentiment, because all they seem to do is ignite more panic with at best, their mere speculations when at this point, we know very little. As far as I’m concerned, God’s in charge, and to quote Anne Lamott, he bats last. Have a lovely weekend Skinny, and my best regards to Pookie. 🙂
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Pookie colored my hair a few days ago. Hairdresser will NOT be a second career for him. I felt little pokes on my scalp from the tip of the dye bottle. He was dotting the color on, ha ha! I explained how to make parts and run the dye along the part. He said doing parts was a lot faster and easier than making dots. The end result was pretty good so I might hire him after all.
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Forgive me for laughing, but that’s such a funny image. MR. POOKIE HAIR EXTRAORDINARE 🙂
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I know what you mean. However, wearing masks around others may be the new normal. There is a tipping point when Norns shift, and then the absence of a mask seems odd. Nonetheless, it still can be uncomfortable. I keep telling myself the motto: “I protect you, and you protect me.”
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It’s war out there.
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War…you say? Keep calm, and carry on.
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It sounds dramatic but it’s how it feels anytime you need to do something. Between dodging others who view you as the enemy, to your mask that feels like a tarp over your mouth, to having to remember all the new rules. Let’s just say stress is in the house.
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Stress? Yes indeed. Do what you can to protect other people and to protect yourself. It is all we can do…take care.
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You too.
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That’s cute. Kids are great. It’s such a shift in culture that in a few months you have the CDC saying not to wear masks to signs popping up everywhere saying no admittance without a mask. It’s for the best, but hopefully we don’t have to keep wearing them long.
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I sure hope so being in chronic mask hell and all.
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We’ll forAGE for the things we want.
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since we’re both AGE-appropriate.
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About the former Miss Um — MILLIE NEE UM has been aging in place for 45 days.
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Ya got me. I fold. Great round though. This is when we meet at the net and shake hands or touch rackets.
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Well-played, Susannah. It’s a tie of far-fetched puns. Glad our feet are still in the ground.
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Like stakes…that are high.
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I’d rather eat mine — steaks, rare and juicy.
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I’d STEAK money on that.
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Sure you wouldn’t CHICKEN out?
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Pig out maybe, since it’s dinner time.
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Oh, tHEN what? Will you use CHOPsticks?
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HOT DOG!!! What a great idea.
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Shall we MEAT,LOAFing in the park?
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Sure, we can HAM it up.
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Would that be selFISH?
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No, not when you remember what LAMBS we are.
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That reminds me of someone who didn’t like lamb. he was VINNIE’S SON.
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He sounds like a DEER. 🙂
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STAGgering thought!
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I DOE’nt know about that.
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While thinking of your answer, I BUCKled my belt.
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Hope you didn’t RAM your finger, in haste.
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I tried to DODGE that bullet. Can’t afFORD a lame finger.
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JEEPers Anne. Try not to IMPALA yourself on anything too sharp.
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SEINA moment. iF AL CONnects, nothing will be too sharp for me.
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I’m lost on part two of this. Forgive me. It’s your round. you really are sharp…like a tack, ATTACKing my senses.
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Mine were far-fetched. I think Ford produced a car called a Falcon. Maybe they are no longer produced. We must STRIKE this round.
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Next time, we’ll be more SPARE.
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Golly! If we’re switching to bowling, I’ll be on PINS and needles. I don’t know anything about the sport.
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All ya have to do is RACK’em up and have a BALL.
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It’s life in the fast LANE for you. Right down your ALLEY. I’ll have to quit with this round. I really don’t know bowling. Add one more, Susannah, and you’ll win, hands down.
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You’re doing pretty good for not knowing much. You’re so modest. You’re BOWL is half full as I see it, not half empty.
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I declare you the official winner. It wouldn’t be fair to Google bowling to get ideas.
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You’re so funny. I think it’s a very limited topic anyway. On to the next. 🙂
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