Most of us are doing are best right now. Sure, there are those yahoos at Cumbies that don’t wear a mask even though there are signs everywhere saying you have to. These are the same folks who think “14 Items or Less” is there to make the express lane faster for them and their 24 items of more. But for the most part, people seem to be hanging in there, trying to go by the rules.
But sometimes, you forget. Like yesterday on my walk ‘round the neighborhood with Scamp, I saw my elderly neighbor, Paul, sitting on his front porch. He’d been failing over the winter with pneumonia and a fall and I hadn’t seen him in a dogs age. He struggled to his feet to say hi, and I was so concerned about him falling, I completely lost my head, went up onto the porch and hugged him! And I wasn’t even wearing a mask! Then I thought, Oh my God, I hope I didn’t kill Paul. I’ve been worried about it ever since.
One of the hardest things for people is standing behind the line when they’re waiting to cash out. They intend to, but get distracted or just naturally wander forward. Happens to Charlie all the time.
Stand Behind the Line
Joyce, down to Agway
Always greets me with a smile
But with that mask she wears
I haven’t seen it for a while
Now she’s strictly business
It’s not that she’s unkind
She just would like it better
If I stood behind the line
“Stand behind that line, now Charlie
Stand behind the line
Come this way when it’s your turn
I’ll tell you when it’s time
Then you’ll stand upon that dot
And for that stuff you’ll sign
I’ll say when, but until then
Stand behind the line”
Some guys I know don’t wear the mask
They say it’s all just hooey
They’re still fond of burning rubber
When they turn a U-ey
You cannot talk to guys like that
They’re always blowing steam
For them, there’s nothing to discuss
They just wanna scream
Lois at Town Hall’s the one
Who registers my truck
But this spring it was Gladys
And I was out of luck
To try to share a joke with her
Would be a waste of time
When all she wants to tell me
Is to stand behind the line
“Stand behind that line, now Charlie
Stand behind the line
Come this way when it’s your turn
I’ll tell you when it’s time
Then you’ll stand upon that dot
And for that stuff you’ll sign
I’ll say when, but until then
Just stand behind the line, OK?
Stand behind the line.”
“Thank you.”
That’s it for now. Stay safe and catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Doing Our Best
Featured Video of the Week: The View From He’ah (2015) my interview with storyteller and musician Michael Parent