(source unknown)

T'was a week before Christmas,

and all through the town,

people wore masks, that covered their frown.

The frown had begun way back in the spring

when a global pandemic changed everything.

They called it corona, but unlike the beer, I

t didn’t bring good times, it didn’t bring cheer.

Airplanes were grounded, travel was banned.

Borders were closed across air, sea, and land.

As the world entered lockdown to flatten the curve,

the economy halted, and folks lost their nerve.

From March to July we rode the first wave,

people stayed home, they tried to behave.

When summer emerged the lockdown was lifted,

but away from caution, many folks drifted.

Now it’s December and cases are spiking,

wave two has arrived, much to our disliking.

It’s true that this year has had sadness a-plenty,

we’ll never forget the year 2020.

And just ‘round the corner - The holiday season,

but why be merry? is there even one reason?

to decorate the house and put up the tree,

who will see it, no one but me.

But outside my window, the snow gently falls,

and I think to myself, let’s deck the halls!

So, I gather the ribbon, the garland, and bows,

as I play those old carols, my happiness grows.

Christmas is not canceled and neither is hope.

If we lean on each other, I know we can cope...

Keep it going! Merry Christmas friends!!!!

T'was a week before Christmas,

and all through the town,

silly people wore mask,

and they looked like a clown.

The clown had sprung way back in the spring,

when a global scamdemic changed everything.

They called it corona, but unlike the beer,

I refused to give in despite their fear.

Airplanes were grounded, travel was banned.

Borders were closed across air, sea, and land.

As the world entered lockdown to "flatten the curve",

the economy halted, and silly clowns lost their nerve.

From March to July we heard the first lies,

clowns stayed home, the rest of us lived our lives.

When summer emerged the lies shifted,

now you had to wear two mask as the WHO spited.

Now it’s December and fake cases are spiking,

scam two has arrived, much to our disliking.

t’s true that this year has had deception a-plenty,

we’ll never forget the year 2020

And just ‘round the corner - The holiday season,

but why be merry? is there even one reason?

Why, yes there is, as a group of unmasked gathers around the tree,

as they all sang "lets go Brandon" with me.

But outside in the fresh air what do I see?

a bunch of silly masked clowns yelling at me.

Christmas is not canceled and neither is hope.

because some folks are not scared and know how to cope.

Gather your family and gather your friends,

Lose the fear and let the cheers begin.

Merry Christmas to freedom of mind and spirit.

6x6

FYI In my area the flu or some sickness is running like crazy thru the schools and families.

The posters on this thread have general business savvy but not specific medical knowledge about the strangers they pass on the street. People wear masks for multiple reasons, not only for COVID. You have no clue about their medical history or that of their family unless they have a sign on their back listing it. Ignorance comes from many sources, including our own self-gratifying assumptions.

The posters on this thread have general business savvy but not specific medical knowledge about the strangers they pass on the street. People wear masks for multiple reasons, not only for COVID. You have no clue about their medical history or that of their family unless they have a sign on their back listing it. Ignorance comes from many sources, including our own self-gratifying assumptions.

Ken, it's kind of like buying a new model of a car. After you buy it, you see that model of car on every road that you drive on. The cars were always there, but now you are hyperaware of them. You may not have noticed masks before, but they were there.

Here is a link to an 2019 article mentioning Tom Brady's mother wearing a mask during her cancer battle during 2016 or 2017 - /www.cancerhealth.com/article/tom-bradys-mom-attends-super-bowl-cancerfree-video

This was definitely pre-COVID. This has been standard practice for immunocompromised persons for decades. This is pretty common in both cities and even in rural areas of the red states I have been in.

It is equally important for people not to be brainwashed into not taking care of their health because they are receiving judgement from people while fighting a difficult health battle. A cancer patient having to miss one appointment due to a preventable cold or flu can have their treatment set back for months. Those poor people in the city wearing masks know better than you do how to run their own lives. You, or some other stranger on the street, won't be the one picking up the pieces if they base their decisions on your social approval instead of what they know is going own in their own lives.

NE, I had already assumed that you incorporated social and community activities, because basically that would be you. I am suggesting that it might be beneficial to become more aware of some of the nuances of health care. Then you may feel more comfortable with people having the freedom to mask up at certain points in their lives or not, and otherwise take care of their health in ways that do not detrimentally affect others. Tradition also is a tricky thing. It was once a tradition for doctors not to wash their hands between surgeries, and now it is expected practice.

Everyone here has good intentions, but could maybe step back and realize that not all mask wearing is COVID related.

Although I disagree with you on this point, keep up the good work with the girls.

I had a strange observation during the pandemic. I was tired of watching the US stations telling us to wash our hands (thank you network executives - before this time, sinks were only for display) so I watches NHK News from Toyoko. I used to be stationed there back in the 90's so they wore mask only when they were sick.

My son used to wear a mask before Covid times.

It was more to keep people away from him than because he was actually sick.

I have a tenant whose adult son has immune problems. He works at a grocery store and has been wearing a mask before it was fashionable.

I have watched idiots start screaming at people for wearing masks. Wow, that's going to help change someone's opinion.

I wish I had not posted this poem. I hoped readers would appreciate what we now have with trip down bad memory lane.

When my system was compromised with medications after my bout with prostate cancer during covid, I wore a mask the few times I was in public to hopefully stop a few germs from entering my body.

I did not go to church for 2 years because my immune system was not up to par. NOT because of a govt edict.

I also asked the grandkids to not use their (grubby, snotty) hands to grab food from the bowl. Wifey poured served it onto their plate. Same reason - I wanted to live and a tiny invisible germ could take me down.

I appreciated the acts of love and respect by others around me to help me with my battle.

True freedom means we get to do what we feel best for ourselves, and to not judge others for it.

I wish I had not posted this poem. I hoped readers would appreciate what we now have with trip down bad memory lane.

When my system was compromised with medications after my bout with prostate cancer during covid, I wore a mask the few times I was in public to hopefully stop a few germs from entering my body.

I did not go to church for 2 years because my immune system was not up to par. NOT because of a govt edict.

I also asked the grandkids to not use their (grubby, snotty) hands to grab food from the bowl. Wifey poured served it onto their plate. Same reason - I wanted to live and a tiny invisible germ could take me down.

I appreciated the acts of love and respect by others around me to help me with my battle.

True freedom means we get to do what we feel best for ourselves, and to not judge others for it.

I wore a mask in the Lowes, not because of fear but to show a little solidarity to the workers that were forced to wear them or be fired.

Went in to a Menards and some mask nazi told me I had to wear one or leave. So I left.

I go there on occasion, but not like I used to.

Some people wanted the extra protection, even if it wasn't much. I don't hold that against them. I don't even have animosity toward those that believed the face covering was the perfect defense.

Let people be. Do what you feel you need to, as long as you don't push it on others.

I see no need to catch a case for that. Not the hill to die on for me.

Brad, I suppose I should have not played around with the poem, but it had nothing to do with immune system deficiencies. As NE stated, there were people blasting those who believe in freedom and not being dictated, possibly even more than people were being blasted for wearing mask. I mean the people wearing mask just because of being feed fear from the government and social media, not for true health reasons. Anyway, as we all know, there are two trains of thought on the whole situation.

One thing is for sure; nobody will forget 2020. Nor will we forget the division.

Most does not equal all.

If you are willing to get on paper because a store doesn't hold your same beliefs that is fine.

For me, I can easily walk away and go to another place to do business.

I didn't fall for the scam, but I will not fight people for having made that mistake... unless they were on the put me in a camp group because I chose not to get a shot.