Imagine a world without bread. We might choose prime rib or an omelet over bread in any instance. Or wine or bananas or broccoli or cheese.
But for everyone, everywhere, for life?
In that calculus, bread wins.
Now change the frame to human interactions – and substitute smiles. No smiles for everyone, everywhere, for life.
Except don’t imagine that world. We’re living it, thanks to global pandemic and the reasonable expectation that we wear masks.
I’ve grown into my mask. Or, at least, become comfortable enough that it no longer irritates.
Darn it, though. Our masks have swept away smiles. And that saddens me.
We “read” faces as easily as we breathe, and smiles power our interactions. But with masks, we must signal meaning through eyebrows, eyes and forehead, as if communicating without verbs.
We may misinterpret. Or be misinterpreted. It’s disconcerting.
Smiles once helped us “speak” from a distance. We need them more now, when a virus prevents getting close. We’re doubly bound, both untouchable and bereft of smiling verbs.
So, a pledge. I’ll smile under my fabric. Will you?
It is depressing not to see a smile on everyone’s face. Here is hoping my vaccine works.