My goal was "exposure therapy" so I took a very short list of items.
I wore my mask, waited to get a cart.
Waited to enter the vestibule.
Used the sanitizer wipe on the cart handles. Applied hand sanitizer.
Picked up the wrong package of hamburger buns but felt I had to take them since I had touched them.
Loaf of bread.
Was about to go down an aisle and realized there were directional signs.
Eggs. Coffee cream. Milk.
Waited for people to finish in front of me so I could move forward.
Three bags of pretzels. Four large party size Doritos bags. A chocolate bar.
My glasses fogged up. I took slow breaths.
Everyone was solemn, like in a funeral home.
I lined up for the check-out.
Spoke to the cashier through plexiglass.
Packed my grocery items into my bags.
I was in the store for less than 30 minutes.
Transferred them to my car trunk. Returned the cart. Drove home.
Burst into the house in tears, overwhelmed and close to hyperventilating.
Clearly I'm going to have to do this several more times before I return to a physical workplace.
Oh no! I'm so sorry. I'm the opposite. I have to remember to keep my distance and sanitize everything. Of course, there is much more contagion where you live than where I live.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you know you aren't sick, you don't have to wear a mask. The mask protects others from you, not you from the virus.
I worry about asymptomatic people. If we all wear masks and/or social distance we reduce the risk for everyone. I likely won't wear one in the library with just my team and no customers - unless the team prefers to wear them, then I will too.
ReplyDeleteI was in tears at Home Depot this morning. I went for some much needed repair items since curbside is taking over a week... got up early to get there at 7, waited for 20 min at the greenhouse door only to find out I couldn't get into the store from that door... had to go to the other end of the store to enter... trying to get back home in time to upload lessons at 8:30... it was intense. Plus the bozos not wearing a mask.
ReplyDeleteBC health doesn't recommend masks unless you're in health care or must break the distance barrier.
ReplyDeleteDid you really not leave the house for 66 days??
Thank you for sharing Marie. I figure there are quite a few people who are having a hard time.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I have been outside of my house to go for walks with the kids, do a porch drop at my mom's, collect my chair from work, but I hadn't been in a store for 66 days. Maybe I should edit to clarify that.