Masks. We all wear them. Some are so well hidden we don't know who you are until to late. Some are physical. Some are cultural. Some...well, some are the mask we wear when we want people to think a particular way about us. The Family that is always perfect in Public, never misses Church, and all of them have Straight A's. Later we hear about the masks in the News.
And there is the opposite. The quiet little old lady who know one knows, has spent her life and her life savings, helping out individuals in bad situations.
Never wanted credit, accolades, or awards. Just living her life like a Saint.
So today, in real life, I got to see one mask slip, and another slide.
I don't drive at night, so when I left the Urgent Care it was so dark- I asked the Nurse if the shots and IV she gave me would hold me over till morning...and I could go pick up all the Meds tomorrow. She said sure.
I made it home...shaking like a leaf. It was all of five PM. Almost the time of day I celebrate the New Year.
So like all us old geezers...I checked the website to see when the Pharmacy is open: 7 AM. Perfect. Enough light for me to drive.
I get there promptly at Seven. The store is open, but the Pharmacy is not. Turns out the Pharmacy opens at 8 AM. So I wait. Sit in the car...walk fifty feet, cough like I invented TB...and back to the car. At 15 minutes to 8, I go back to the Pharmacy.
No where to sit. I stand, walk the aisles...but that starts my cough. And if want to see people scatter from an aisle ...cough like your lungs are coming out...they look at you like have Leprosy and they flee.
So I get tired of both scaring people, and walking. I go back to the Pharmacy area...you can see folks prepping behind the pull down grate. An older guy, wearing a Trump T-shirt, Maga Hat with Trump's two terms on the side, and a button that says: Trump 2028. I nod. He nods.
I hold on to a stand, when a coughing fit hits so hard it bends me over. That old man walks over to me and starts rubbing my back. "You okay?" I nod" can't talk yet ...no air."
He looks at the folks behind the counter and says: "One of you young people get this man a chair. Can't you see he needs to sit down?" He didn't yell. He didn't raise his voice, he just took command. I just knew he was a Veteran. And I was right. I got the chair!
I told him it wasn't contagious it was my Asthma acting up bad. So we chatted. And I said: "If you knew I was a Democrat...would you have helped me?'
He laughed.
"Buddy, you could have been the Devil himself, but I ain't ever going to let someone suffer if I can help it. I wasn't raised that way. "
I smiled, me too.
Then he smirked (and gave away he was a Marine, just like I thought).
"by the way ARE you a Democrat?"
We both laughed.
I saluted him cause shaking hands puts me at risk right now. He came to attention and razor sharp saluted me. Gave me a wink, and said:
"Next election, vote better."
And we laughed again.