Elaine and I have long been fans of a nearby family-owned orchard. Its abundance has been the stuff blog posts are made of. But no more, not for us. When we drove to the orchard yesterday, we found to our surprise that every customer in the small shed that holds apples and produce was masked — that’s hardly the norm in downstate Illinois. The only people not wearing masks: the two people working. We stood around for a minute, thought about what to do, and walked out. Elaine left a comment on the orchard’s Facebook page. It was soon removed. She then posted about our experience to her Facebook readers, and I mailed the following note to the orchard today:
Dear friends,The icing on this crummy cake: one of the people working at the orchard is a retired science teacher. She always wears a mask. But she apparently has little influence on everyone else.
For many years my wife and I have enjoyed apples, peaches, and everything else we’ve brought home from your orchard. Yesterday when we came by, we were surprised to see that everyone was wearing a mask — everyone but the two people working. And so we left. We cannot risk spending time at a business whose employees do not wear masks.
It puzzles me that you’ve deleted Elaine’s comment from your Facebook page. If you’re comfortable with a no-masks policy, why not let people know that no one needs to wear a mask at the orchard? If you’re not comfortable, then please, change your business practices. We’d be happy to come back if you do.
[“Such stuff / As dreams are made on”: William Shakespeare. “The stuff dreams are made of”: Sam Spade.]
comments: 4
Wow! Just the flip of what one would usually expect. I would have walked out also. A few days ago I wanted to get something at Chipotle and walked in to find 6 people all bunched up together in front of where they prepare the food. No thanks! Turned around and walked out and decided to go another time.
Interestingly here in the Midwest (Kansas) masks are required and I would say 95% of the people follow it as well as socially distance in public.
Kirsten
People have become better with masks here, but there’s still an appalling number of people who don’t take it seriously.
There’s an oddly phrased sentence on a local Facebook page that sums it up: “We must all do our part to prevent mitigation.” The writer means that we must do our part to not go backwards and have everything shut down. But it seems that some people must take it the other way. No masks, no distance.
We are required to wear OR masks in the building at all times, except when eating lunch 6' away from each other. One of our nurses does this, but wears a sheer mask before she changes into scrubs and to go home. It's unfathomable.
Our Wal-Mart’s head pharmacist (old guy) wears no mask. Him too, unfathomable.
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