Year Four, Day 329: Pandemic Times Day 78, "Stay Home - Stay Safe" Day 65: Tears for a Man I Did Not Know

Dear Friends:

Today has been hard.  I am grieving.

Yes, there are more deaths in the US due to the coronavirus. 101,700.  Up about 1,500 from yesterday.

Yes, there was another outbreak, this time in Fairview, Oregon at Townsend farms. Over 50 people infected. Apparently it was the second outbreak. The first was not reported.
https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/coronavirus-outbreak-hits-townsend-farms-in-fairview.html.

Yes, it's hot. Nearly 90 degrees today.

But that is not why I am crying. I am in tears over a man I did not know.

I am grieving the senseless, shocking death of George Floyd.

I want to share a little moment I had this morning that really opened my eyes.  It was a brief encounter, but in it, I saw the plight of the black man in our country.

I stood outside Walmart waiting for the doors to open this morning. It was 7:30 a.m. I stood behind a tall, young black man. On his face, he wore a black, Raider's mask.

I smiled at him (with my eyes, for I too wore a mask). I told him I liked his mask. He thanked me. We stood in silence staring at the locked door.  I looked at the sign. It said they opened at 7:00 a.m. every day. It was then nearly 7:10.

I noticed many signs. Signs advising all customers to wear face coverings, and to follow the arrows on the floor once we got inside, to encourage social distancing. Signs that said all the employees were wearing masks and they were trying to make our shopping experience as safe as possible.

I noticed that the other door, the exit door was wide open.

"Are they not open yet?' I mused.  I looked at the young man. He shrugged. I pointed out the open exit door.  He gave me a long, meaningful look.  He stood his ground.

And I got it.  Black man with a mask. He was obeying the rules. Reading the signs. Not stepping out of line.

I crossed the ropes and entered the exit door. I hailed the closest employee and told them we were waiting outside. "Are you open yet?" I asked gently.

The employee called over the manager, who apologized profusely and unlocked the entry door.

The young man in the Raider's mask looked at me as he walked in and sterilized his hands before grabbing a cart.

"Thank you", he said in a soft voice. My heart lurched.

I have been crying off and on all day. For all those suffering pain and injustice, at the hands of others. And tears for a man I did not know. Rest in peace, George Floyd.

I will talk to you tomorrow.



Love,

Zita