One day I was in a store and I noticed someone who looked odd. I couldn’t figure out why at first. The person was a stranger and nothing was particularly unusual about his face or what he was doing.

Then, a light bulb went off in my mind.

This man was NOT wearing a mask.

I’ve become so accustomed to everyone wearing masks that it’s become what I expect and because it’s so common this look seems to float into the background by now.

I was struck by the “oddity” of a person without a mask walking in and out of the store ignoring everyone as people do yet I suppose this fellow was not keeping in mind that neither he nor the rest of us present were therefore as safe as we should be because of this choice.

This blip on my radar struck me so I mentioned to a stranger nearby me,

“That man isn’t wearing a mask. It confused me for a second.”

She responded,

“I noticed, too. I understand. It’s so automatic for me anytime I go out –  even for a second – that if the rare moment occurs when someone is without it, it feels like something’s wrong.”

It was settling for me the way this woman responded to my reaction.

She felt kind and responsible which was reassuring.

Has this ever happened to you or your child when you are out of your home?

Even as we are slowly being vaccinated this need for mask wearing will not change – something very crucial for us all to remember.

“Oops. They forgot their masks!”

Have a good week!