To mask or not to mask

Take a selfie with my book

The Front Page

Afternoon Update

Saturday, September 4, 2021

By Ken Tingley

To mask or not to mask is turning out to be debate of epidemic proportions - sorry for the pun but I couldn’t resist.

I also think it is one of the silliest debates we’ve ever had, if it didn’t have such deadly ramifications.

The boys at YMCA noon ball were talking about it the other day. Personally, I’d rather debate Lebron or Durant, but the debate about masks went on nevertheless.

Apparently, one player walked out this week when the YMCA posted a sign that said if you were not vaccinated, you had to wear a mask. I thought that had been the YMCA’s policy all along, so the fact that one of our regulars was putting me at risk is a little disconcerting.

I take a medication that compromises my immune system, so I’m advised to get the flu shot every year and when the vaccine was available, I got to go to the head of the line. Since the recent Covid outbreak among the mostly unvaccinated, I’ve gone back to wearing masks at the supermarket and other places indoors where it might be difficult to keep a safe distance.

I don’t see the big deal in wearing a mask. If it keeps everyone safe, I’m all in. Granted, I’m not a big fan of wearing one on a three-hour flight, but if it is for the greater good, I’m willing to put up with a little discomfort.

I keep coming back to the statistics about the flu this past winter. Since we were all wearing masks, flu cases were at an all-time low and almost nobody died of the flu. Granted, Covid-19 probably got them first, but still.

Other cultures, such as Japan and China, have regularly worn masks because of the densities of their population. As I recall briefly from my last surgical procedure, the doctors and nurses were all wearing masks in the operating room.

I’ve always been proud of this community for how it rallies around those in need. That’s essentially what we have here. We are all in need in doing what is best for all of us. People like myself, with compromised immune systems, would like you all to get the vaccine.

That keeps me safer. If not, then wear a mask.

And if you can’t do either, stay home and don’t play basketball.

Football

College football season - at least most of the teams - gets under way today. I rediscovered college football a couple years ago when my son was gong to graduate school at West Virginia. They happened to have a great football team that first year and I watched most of the games on television and a couple in person.

I’ve kept watching the the past couple of years.

My son has since moved on to Texas and I’ve got tickets to see Texas play Kansas State and Texas-San Antonio to play Alabama-Birmingham over Thanksgiving.

So today, I’ve got the VCR running for the WVU and Texas games. The one thing I love about college football is the best team usually wins. In the NFL, no lead ever seems to be safe. I guess that is exciting, but once in awhile I’d like a nice easy win for the Giants.

Maybe, it’s just the Giants I have a problem with.

Take those selfies

My publisher sent me the long-awaited photo of my books being shipped out.

The collection of columns is now available from my publisher and on Amazon.com. I will be reaching out to some retail stores in the coming weeks and keep you posted where you can get them locally.

Until then, join in the fun. When you get the book, take a selfie of yourself with the book. I got my first one from a reader on Saturday.

I also encourage everyone to leave a review on goodreads.com and Amazon.com.

Tweet of the Day

Lady Dawn M @IAmDawnM

Vasectomy should be compulsory at puberty, reversed only with express permission from a life partner who wants to procreate. How do you like it?