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Still Proud to be an American
But Covid Times aren’t anything like the communal spirit we felt after 9–11
I found it difficult last year to rally around the flag. There, I’ve said it.
Our elected leaders — well, those at the top — failed us in 2020. But it’s not just those in charge. I still come upon “mask deniers” in my local commercial venues every so often, such as grocery stores and restaurants (where we only eat alfresco, as they say in Italy), although those folks are few and far between these days. I’m happy to report that most of the residents of my little corner of the U.S. of A. are getting with the program. And with the vaccine’s arrival — fingers crossed — we have some hope to cling to these days.
Those who politicize mask-wearing or give off the “who cares?” vibe to the health of others just plain perturb me. Last month, I was in a bike repair shop; I’d wheeled my used Huffy Beach Cruiser in to get a tune-up. I, of course, wore a mask. The young man at the counter, who had two large bottles of hand sanitizer located on the counter where he leaned, didn’t sport a face covering, and looked at me quizzically when I didn’t move any closer than about 15 feet toward him. He realized, after glancing at the older gent behind him working on bikes, that he didn’t have his mask on. He then complied with state law…
