Who is that masked man?

I have been throwing this post together rather hurriedly and grabbed one of the first "coronavirus mask" photographs I found on the internet. It was posted by the Denverite -- "a member-supported news organization for the curious and concerned in our ever-changing city" (Denver). If you look closely, I believe it is the same individual who is "modeling" all of the masks. Anyway, for a musical offering this time around are, "Love Hurts," sung by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and sort of another "love song," ГРАЙ -- В объятиях Мары, which translates into a band named Gray performing a song named, "In the Arms of Mary" .... or Mara, as you prefer ....

The time of the mask

I was born a bit of a maverick by nature which, in some ways, made me a good Marine and, in other ways, a not so good Marine. I once told a Navy lieutenant commander to go ?!?! himself. It cost me a night in the brig at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California, but also made me one among the sort of band of "folk heroes" in my outfit. Someday, I might write about what led to this encounter, but for now I will only briefly mention what turned out to be both a fun and an interesting interlude.

This all began during an afternoon and I was in the brig by around 1900. I promptly fell asleep and awakened about 0200 to see my cell door open and a pair of feet propped up against it. The feet belonged to another member of my company, who had been assigned the task of keeping an eye on me throughout the night. I woke him up and we talked for a while. He was sleepy, where I was fresh from a six- or seven-hour "nap." He went to sleep in my cell, and I set out to explore the brig.

I found no one awake and a few "guards" and prisoners soundly sleeping. I found food and ate. I snooped in the desks in the main office, including a drawer which contained about a dozen wallets. I watched television a while and "read" a couple of Playboy magazines. At 0500, I awakened my buddy, who still was asleep in my cell, and the No. 1 man in charge of the brig. I told the "brig master" I was departing with my buddy and my wallet. He mumbled something unintelligible, and the two of us left to return to our outfit. I never heard an "official" word about the incident, but, had it been a Marine Corps officer I became mouthy with, I probably would have been strung up by my thumbs.

This has been a prelude to noting that last week I put on a mask for the first time during this coronavirus business. The occasion was the first of two visits to a clinic, that visit for lab work. Two days later, I returned for my "annual wellness examination." Actually, it had been about a year and one-half since I last called on my doctor and before she became insistent that I make a personal appearance. I am glad to report that apparently I am alive and all is well. I could have told her that without undergoing an examination, and saved us both some time and me some money.

Well, my maskless days are ending. Today is the first day when all Minnesotans are being ordered to wear masks while in any public access buildings or outdoor areas where "social distancing" is not feasible. I have neither a good nor a logical reason to explain why I have chosen not to wear a mask before now. I tend to think it comes from the "maverick" element within me, and probably defines me as dumb and stubborn in some ways, to say the least. I am sure there is at least one Navy lieutenant commander who would agree with that assessment.

I will point out that 31 of the 50 states now have some variation of "masks required rules." It will be most fascinating to see how the world is doing a year from now .... will it not?