No Mask for Father’s Day; Not Mandatory When You’re At Home
“What’s today? Sunday.”
My 94-year-old father asked and answered his question within seconds as I helped him get ready for the day. “Yes, it’s Sunday…and it’s Father’s Day,” I announced loud and clear in his right ear. His second set of ears, aka, hearing aids, rested on top of his worn and well-read Bible in his bedroom. His eyes widened, taken aback at my words as he looked at our reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Oh yeah? Father’s Day…hmm. So it’s June.” I nodded. He nodded then mentioned time was flying.
Indeed it was. Six months, well almost seven, into 2020; almost four months of sheltering in place for us. It’s mostly been for him as I’ve had to venture out for essential purchases made quickly without pausing. I’m one of the high-risk, but Dad is definitely part of the higher-risk population. The Center for Disease Control’s website, www.cdc.gov stated that 8 out of 10 deaths from coronavirus in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years and older. The estimated percentage of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in adults 85 and older included hospitalization (31–70%), admission to intensive care (6–29%) and deaths (10–27%). Dad’s been sheltering in house since our last visit to our home church, March 15, the day before state governments did a domino effect of shutting down due to a pandemic.
Now, Indiana, along with other states have been reopening in phases/stages since earlier this month. I am sure many families are continuing the traditions of Father’s Day celebrations by attending church services then going to dinner at a restaurant with new policies that may or may not be acted upon.
This morning, Dad sat in the living room chair, focused on the live stream of our home church. Father’s Day dinner will be prepared by me. Watching church on my laptop has been our routine since late March. And no mask.
The suit, tie and sharp hat traded for a button down polo shirt, black denim and a pair of Nike gyms. No mask covered his face, which brought a sense of something in the past (yeah, that’s crazy to refer it as such). The only times he wears a mask is while sitting on the porch now that the weather is nicer, and recently the two times he gone beyond the porch.
A quick doctor’s visit and an errand allowed him to enjoy a couple of mini road trips. “I have to put this on?” he asked before taking it and lowering his head. Any other person would probably have given a parent an option. But Dad’s children will not have any of that.“It’s the new normal,” I said as he shrugged his shoulders.
Wearing a mask for Dad takes getting used to, especially when the last times he’s worn a mask was when he was a welder at American Bridge that was larger and covered his entire face to protect him from sparks. Or doing something around the house that required a mask. Those days are long gone, or so we thought until this year. While he’s been around long enough that health scares like the Asian Flu (1957), HIV/AIDS (1981), SARS (2003) and briefly, Ebola, COVID-19 is leaving everyone vulnerable because of its newness and the delays of getting stuff done.
In the midst of current mayhem that includes the continuing fight for civil rights, Dad takes everything in stride. At 94 — with a birthday coming next month — there’s no need for him to panic, or stress out. This is another hill to sit back and watch as the rest of us continue to make his life comfortable.
Indiana’s final reopening stage is due to take place on the 4th of July. When the state completely opens, he will still be in the house where he raised the family. His children will continue to see to it that he is taken care of and he will remain in his own world.
And that’s fine with him.
