thoughts – Blog Bits

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

Masks

Someday a couple of years from now, someone will open a cardboard box at the back of a hospital storage room and say, “Hey, what are we gonna do with all these masks that we don’t need?” Some of those masks will be mine.

All research indicates that a cotton mask doesn’t really protect much without a filter. It’s just one notch better than nothing. News varies about the filters that go into the masks. Some say to cut up furnace filters. Others say no, the furnace filters contain bits of glass – you don’t want to breathe that in. A few say to cut up vacuum cleaner filters. Coffee filters. Blue shop rags. All of the articles claim that their recommendations are based on reliable research.

I use fusible interfacing, which scored at least as well as coffee filters in one article and which, as it happens, I have. I also figured out how to build in a pocket so that whoever ends up using the mask can add their own filter.

Across the US women are making these masks – the media are doing stories about them. It’s like knitting socks for soldiers in WWI or sewing shirts for them in WWII. This time, we’re trying to help the medical teams. Elastic is hard to come by because all of us mask-makers have bought it out. I started making mine with ties.

A sewing machine, a set of instructions for making a mask, and a mask with pleats pinned into place.

I wish I could say my motives are entirely altruistic, but really, I make them mostly to feel useful at a time when I’m being told I’m elderly and should stay home. It gives me something to do besides watch TV and spend too much time on Facebook.

Last night four of us got together at church to serve meals to people, part of an ongoing community program. It was wonderful to spend a couple of hours around people, working, joking, sharing news, making sure everyone is OK. I came home and made another mask, but the task felt stale. I was grateful to realize I had to stop for the night: I’d run out of interfacing.

But this morning I bought more. I ran into someone I know in the fabric aisle at Walmart. She is getting ready to make masks, too, now that everyone is supposed to be wearing them. It was so nice to have someone to talk to. I indulged myself by offering some tips.

So I guess this self-quarantine is starting to wear on me. Even we introverts need human contact now and then.

Woman's face (mine) wearing a floral cotton face mask.

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019

Kindness

A small box contains a heart-shaped necklace made of horseshoe nails. The box rests atop a white post office mailer. To the right of the box is its lid with a purple ribbon and a business card stating "Thank you for buying from a small business!"

A week ago today a workman in my home stole a necklace, one I’d had for years. I couldn’t prove anything, but it was gone. Trust destroyed. Lesson learned.

In frustration I said a few words to the thief on Facebook. I supposed that he had converted it into weekend drug money, and I closed the post with these words: “You stole a necklace and got trashed for a few hours. I have happy memories over many years. I win.” I didn’t have a photo, so I googled something close and used it as part of my post.

One of my friends tracked down the maker of the necklace in the post and anonymously sent it to me. It arrived today. (See above.)

When I wear this necklace, I will remember their kindness and generosity of spirit. I’ll do my best to share it. Kindness is real. Lesson learned.

Thank you.

August 31, 2019October 11, 2019

You can take a teacher out of the classroom, but …

I was about to walk into Kroger when a tweenager sitting at a table smiled and asked, “Would you like to buy a candy bar?” I said no and kept moving. Three steps inside, it hit me, and I went back out. “What are the candy bars for?”

She explained that her Energizers dance group is trying to raise money for an opportunity to dance at Disney World. “You need to work on your sales pitch! No one wants to buy a candy bar. Everyone wants to support the Energizers.” Her grandmother, sitting next to her, smiled and agreed. “So what should you be saying?” She thought for a moment and come up with, “Would you like to support the Energizers’ dance trip to Disney World?” I smiled and told her to catch me on the way back out.

I completed my shopping, a little embarrassed that I was “being the teacher” with a total stranger who had not asked for my advice. And I did, in fact, purchase a horribly overpriced Kit-Kat bar. But on my return trip, she said, “As soon as my grandmother gets back, I’m going to make a sign.” So she had been thinking about improving her sales technique. And as I walked to my car, I heard her saying to two different people behind me, “Would you like to support the Energizers’ trip to dance at Disney World?”

I’d like to think I helped her be more successful. I know I’m not a classroom teacher any more, but sometimes a teachable moment presents itself, and I tend to define “classroom” broadly. Retirement? Maybe someday.