I thought maybe it was time to update everyone about the studio and how we feel and continue to deal with Covid.
We are still wearing masks to protect ourselves and ask that our customers do the same. I am not here to preach about our beliefs versus yours, whether you agree or disagree with our policy. We need to do what is best for us, live within our comfort zone, and do risk management from the information that is provided by the experts. We continue to listen to the scientists and medical professionals and it seems that the course we are on is right for us at this time. We hope in future we can begin to relax, but right now with a more virulent, highly contagious, BA5 on our doorsteps, now isn’t the time.
I do have to say with some disenchantment that I am disappointed in the reactions of others with our policy. Most of the customers that cross our threshold tell us thank-you for protecting them and ourselves, that we have to do whatever keeps us safe. Being in retail people talk to us so we hear who has had Covid, along with their families and friends, some who have passed, it is all around us and touched pretty much everyone in one way or another.
But and there is always that infuriating but, some feel it necessary to bully, to shame, to holler at us for our stupidity in thinking that a plague even exists. I’m going to call it a plague instead of a pandemic because the latter is too friendly a word to describe what the world is experiencing. It sounds more like the Olympic Games, something fun. A plague conjures up thoughts of the black death hunting us down, and according to WHO, the true global death toll from this Covid plague is almost 15 million.
A woman yesterday hollered into the shop, “You come highly recommended but I’m not wearing a mask and I won’t be spending my money here!”
I was hooking one beautiful summer Saturday with the door open. I could hear the comments of the passersby as they read my notice. They mumbled and shook their heads, sometimes saying I was nuts. Looking in at me in my mask as if I was someone to pity. At one point a woman walked by with a young child no more than 6 and she stopped to read my sign and then hollered in “That’s ridiculous!” and continued walking. Then sent her child back to climb up on our step and scream in the door, “That’s ridiculous!” He laughed at me and ran back to his mom. I was flabbergasted, thinking how a mother could do that to a child, what kind of message will ferment in his young, impressionable mind? No child is born to hate, their parents teach them all they need to know.
How many times have I heard comments about the studio being Fort Knox? One guy said that because we’ve vaccinated and have had boosters, we are the ones spreading Covid around. He said he hasn’t had any vaccinations so he will be safe.
One gal said, “I don’t have a mask so I won’t be coming in. I’ll come back when you take that sign down!” She huffed away before I could tell her we sell masks for $2.00. I somehow don’t think that would have been appreciated and until the plague starts petering out, the sign is here to stay.
What do I say to all of this? Well, what can I say? First of all, I am shocked speechless every single time because it knocks my brain offline. In my wildest imagination I can’t figure it all out. By the time I’m collecting my wits, the person is gone. Maybe I need to prefabricate replies, have them ready but I’d probably still have trouble with the spontaneity of it all. I’m not a scrapper but I do admit that after the fact, comments come easy and are clever, then my hubby chimes in with even better retorts but that’s like locking the barn after the cow ran away.
For now, the masks will stay on. I live for the day when I can feel safe removing it, pluck my chin, whiten my teeth and get out that coveted lipstick, but while we’re still in the middle of this plague, I’ll continue to get my boosters and hope when it finally finds me, with my compromised immune system, I’ll be strong enough to withstand its blow and continue to keep Encompassing Designs going. So, bear with us please. If you don’t support our decision that is your right and we respect it, but maybe you could keep your comments in check and respect ours.
We are still wearing masks to protect ourselves and ask that our customers do the same. I am not here to preach about our beliefs versus yours, whether you agree or disagree with our policy. We need to do what is best for us, live within our comfort zone, and do risk management from the information that is provided by the experts. We continue to listen to the scientists and medical professionals and it seems that the course we are on is right for us at this time. We hope in future we can begin to relax, but right now with a more virulent, highly contagious, BA5 on our doorsteps, now isn’t the time.
I do have to say with some disenchantment that I am disappointed in the reactions of others with our policy. Most of the customers that cross our threshold tell us thank-you for protecting them and ourselves, that we have to do whatever keeps us safe. Being in retail people talk to us so we hear who has had Covid, along with their families and friends, some who have passed, it is all around us and touched pretty much everyone in one way or another.
But and there is always that infuriating but, some feel it necessary to bully, to shame, to holler at us for our stupidity in thinking that a plague even exists. I’m going to call it a plague instead of a pandemic because the latter is too friendly a word to describe what the world is experiencing. It sounds more like the Olympic Games, something fun. A plague conjures up thoughts of the black death hunting us down, and according to WHO, the true global death toll from this Covid plague is almost 15 million.
A woman yesterday hollered into the shop, “You come highly recommended but I’m not wearing a mask and I won’t be spending my money here!”
I was hooking one beautiful summer Saturday with the door open. I could hear the comments of the passersby as they read my notice. They mumbled and shook their heads, sometimes saying I was nuts. Looking in at me in my mask as if I was someone to pity. At one point a woman walked by with a young child no more than 6 and she stopped to read my sign and then hollered in “That’s ridiculous!” and continued walking. Then sent her child back to climb up on our step and scream in the door, “That’s ridiculous!” He laughed at me and ran back to his mom. I was flabbergasted, thinking how a mother could do that to a child, what kind of message will ferment in his young, impressionable mind? No child is born to hate, their parents teach them all they need to know.
How many times have I heard comments about the studio being Fort Knox? One guy said that because we’ve vaccinated and have had boosters, we are the ones spreading Covid around. He said he hasn’t had any vaccinations so he will be safe.
One gal said, “I don’t have a mask so I won’t be coming in. I’ll come back when you take that sign down!” She huffed away before I could tell her we sell masks for $2.00. I somehow don’t think that would have been appreciated and until the plague starts petering out, the sign is here to stay.
What do I say to all of this? Well, what can I say? First of all, I am shocked speechless every single time because it knocks my brain offline. In my wildest imagination I can’t figure it all out. By the time I’m collecting my wits, the person is gone. Maybe I need to prefabricate replies, have them ready but I’d probably still have trouble with the spontaneity of it all. I’m not a scrapper but I do admit that after the fact, comments come easy and are clever, then my hubby chimes in with even better retorts but that’s like locking the barn after the cow ran away.
For now, the masks will stay on. I live for the day when I can feel safe removing it, pluck my chin, whiten my teeth and get out that coveted lipstick, but while we’re still in the middle of this plague, I’ll continue to get my boosters and hope when it finally finds me, with my compromised immune system, I’ll be strong enough to withstand its blow and continue to keep Encompassing Designs going. So, bear with us please. If you don’t support our decision that is your right and we respect it, but maybe you could keep your comments in check and respect ours.
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