May 13, 2020
Our city has told us we can gather in small groups of no more than 10 but must keep 6 ft apart. Some people are doing more; some people are doing less. Most people still think wearing a mask means you're afraid for your own health. We cannot seem to understand that wearing masks is what you do to make ALL of us safe. We do it for others, to prevent the spread. Because we could be the infected ones who have no symptoms. Testing is very hard to get. Test results take a long time, and are spotty and unreliable
And in "Midwest nice" we don't speak out when others violate the rules. When they step too close, hand us their baby to hold, or wear their mask wrong (if they have one at all). We have 40, 50, 60 years of behavioral conditioning that mandates us to "be nice, don't offend." So we say nothing. Do nothing.
