Public Places

Yesterday I went to Target for the first time since mid-April. I'd been planning a trip for some time, and worked on my shopping list all week, but as my planned time grew close, I started getting really nervous. Luckily, it was an ok experience.

The parking lot was more full than it had been when I was there in April, but it was not at all crowded inside. All employees and customers I saw had masks, although one employee had the kind with vents (equivalent to wearing a condom with a hole in it), and two people had theirs pulled down under their nose (but still covering their mouth - if that's what it takes to get them to wear a mask, it's better than nothing). Checking out, there are still marks on the floor to space people out when waiting in line, and there is now plexiglass in front of the cashier. All the food, pet, and toiletry items I was looking for were in stock - though I didn't even go near the cleaning supplies. However, I was also looking for a few clothing items for my husband, and the men's department was kind of decimated. I also purchased a new small TV for our guest bedroom (which is going to get more use as a den right now), and the electronics department seemed kind of sparse, as well.

This morning, I ran two errands. First, I went to the supermarket for my grocery pick-up. Everyone I saw in the parking lot had a mask on, even children. Definitely the most mask-wearing I've seen yet at this shopping center.

Then, I went to the Post Office. I was nervous, because it is the smallest public space I've been inside of, but they had lots of precautions. All the doors were propped open, so you didn't have to touch any handles (plus, airflow). There were marks to keep people separated while waiting in line, but I was the only customer there. At the counter, there is plexiglass hanging from the ceiling in front of the clerks, leaving a gap above the counter to pass packages through. My PO has three cashier stations, and the middle one was closed, spacing the employees further. There is also a line you must stand behind to stay back from the counter, until it's time to pay. And of course, everyone there had masks.

On my way out, a woman with a package was about to enter at the same time. I instinctively stepped aside, thinking it would be more convenient for her to just come in since she was carrying something, but then I realized it was probably best if I leave first, so we're not both in the lobby together. It's weird how our thought processes have changed like that.