Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags
I went to the grocery store and when I was parking I noticed a couple coming out of the store without masks on. When I was walking toward the entrance I saw that the usual very large sign instructing people to wear masks in the store was gone. I'm vaccinated, things have loosened up, so I thought Great! I can finally shop without a mask on.
I went through the entire store and yes, I saw people wearing masks. But I thought that they chose to do so, which is fine.
So I got to the cashier line and an employee ran up to me (I mean, seriously ran like his azz was on fire), holding out a paper mask in his hand. He loudly said to me, "Here! You need to wear a mask!!" Everyone in the vicinity turned and looked. I said, "I thought we didn't have to wear masks anymore" - he replied "On June 15th!" So I told him I had a mask in my purse, took it out, and put it on.
I was mortified. And angry. The guidelines are so unclear at this point. And it seemed to me that the employee could have approached me quietly, instead of yelling out to me.
There are huge gatherings of people on Main Street that have beer bashes every week-end, no one wearing masks - yet this dude in a grocery store acted like I had committed a crime.
Then of course, I started beating up on myself...I'm so stupid, I would miss the obvious...blah, blah, blah.
Now my anxiety level is up, depression is up. Lately, I feel like everything I've worked on in therapy for 2 years is shot to hell. That said, I'm going to try some breathing and meditation and try to calm down.
Ha, I guess this is my "During the pandemic I was in a grocery store, and..." story.
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I'm so sorry you had that experience in the grocery store. I had a similar experience when I went grocery shopping the other day. The rules here aren't uniform...nor were they uniformly enforced even when things were still bad. Anyways, I asked a woman who was in the parking lot if they were still requiring masks. She said not if one was fully vaccinated (which I am). I asked the same of the first employee I encountered when I entered the store & she said the same. However, about 80% of the people shopping were wearing masks & I didn't have one with me. I was mortified. Who knows how thoughtless or reckless the other shoppers thought I was being! At least no one came running after me like they did in your grocery store encounter.
That written, there's no need to beat yourself up over something like that, BethRags. I know you're in a difficult space these days, but I note you're still picking others up with your natural goodness here on the boards. Perhaps if you recognize that you won't feel so down on yourself? The past two years of therapy aren't down the drain! This is just a temporary setback exacerbated by several bad breaks (London's health issues, etc.). Be kind to yourself.
Oh! And good news! Your Giants finally beat the fukking Dodgers last night, & I just checked the score of tonight's game. The Giants are ahead 11-6 in the bottom of the 9th! Take that LA!!!