We went to a football game in Vancouver last night. It’s the first time we’ve ventured there in a long, long time. We cancelled some trips earlier in the year, anxious about the COVID situation. But we’re both fully vaccinated, and indoor spaces require masks and proof of vaccination, so we felt sure that we could safely go.

We left just after noon, and due to an accident on Highway 1 we arrived a little later than we expected. We checked into our hotel, where we showed our vaccination status and ID. Everyone in the lobby was masked. It was still too early for dinner, so we put our bags in our room and took a wander around. Some people on the street wore their masks all the time, like us, some had their masks dangling from their ear or chin. It was a beautiful afternoon. After making a loop going up several blocks then over several blocks, we made our way down to BC Place. We sat on the steps in front of the Terry Fox statues, enjoying the sun. The young people doing tricks on their skateboards weren’t masked, but they were outside and away from us. We people watched for a while then walked back up the street to a favourite restaurant.

As we entered, we were asked by a masked employee to use some hand sanitizer, then our vaccination passports were scanned and our IDs checked. We were led to a table that was separated from the tables around it by plexiglass dividers. All the employees were masked. Everyone who came in, or got up from their table, was masked. I was reassured, I felt like the collective we had finally got it.

But that changed as soon as we left the restaurant. As we walked down to the game, we saw an unmasked older couple arguing with a masked young man outside the door of a ramen restaurant. While it could be argued that a ramen restaurant is a fast food joint and thus exempt from some of the current rules, you still need to wear a mask to go in, even if just to get take out. And, I don’t know, if a restaurant or business wants to check your vaccination status, I would think they have that right, to keep their guests and employees safe. You don’t like that, don’t want to wear a mask? Be an adult, leave and take your business elsewhere. Don’t stand on the street arguing. I gave them a dirty look over the top of my mask and walked on. I don’t think they saw, but I still did it, so there.

At BC Place everyone wore a mask in the line up, and all employees were properly masked. Nothing irks me more than someone wearing just a face shield, usually tilted up to expose their mouth, or a mask below their nose. But once we got inside, things were not so good. I can see it’s not ideal to remove your mask for every bite of a hot dog, but when you’ve eaten the whole thing, put your mask back on. It’s not hard to replace your mask after taking a sip, or gulp of your beverage. We saw people leaving their seats to go get more food or drinks without putting their masks on. They returned the same way, so I guess no one stopped them and told them to to put them on. Wearing a mask is sometimes a good thing, because I looked at those stupid idiots and cursed them under my breath with pretty foul language. No one knew. It made me feel better. It was childish, but I did it, so there.

Finally, on our way home, we stopped at a local business that we frequent several times a month, just to check out what they have. We put on our masks, as we always do, before getting out of the car.  As we were going in, six women came out. Four were masked. The other two had their masks in their hands. We waited until they had all passed by before going in. Another customer was wearing her mask below her nose as she walked around. Then one of the owners came out, to move some things around and say hi. No mask. Inside, the other owner was putting things away. No mask. I told Dale I was leaving. As I left, I noticed there was a sign up saying everyone had to wear a mask inside the store. Hmmm…

I really like this store and the owners. They are very friendly and they carry a wonderful variety of ever-changing merchandise we enjoy looking through. It was just minutes before closing time, so I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt, that they wore masks all day but took them off to do their closing routine. We’ll go back some time next week, well before closing time. If they aren’t wearing masks, we won’t shop there again. Just like we aren’t going to restaurants that aren’t following the rules, ever again, even after the rules are no longer in place. Because we don’t want to support people and businesses who don’t care about other people and businesses.

We have all been through a difficult couple of years. The sooner we all get fully vaccinated, and the more we uphold the very minor restrictions placed on us, the sooner we can get back to whatever normal is going to be after all of this. Want your kids in school? Get vaccinated, and wear a mask when you drop them off and pick them up. Want to go to the movies, concerts, sporting events, the theatre? Get vaccinated and follow the rules put in place while you’re there. Want to travel? You know what I’m going to say.

By now, you should be beyond the “but what’s in the vaccine, is it safe?” stage. Your in-depth internet research should be complete by now. Millions of people, hundreds of millions of people, around the world have been vaccinated. The very rare side effects have been identified. Your odds of having terrible things happen to you because of COVID are way, way higher than what might happen if you get vaccinated. Not being fully vaccinated at this stage of the pandemic means you’re probably a terrible person. It’s safe for pregnant women and people with auto-immune diseases. Even the most immune compromised people, people who have had multiple organ transplants, have been vaccinated. There are no religious exemptions that apply. Think the disease was created in a lab in China? Does it matter? Nope. Get the shot.

Unvaccinated people are filling our ICUs. Medical personnel are overworked, demoralized and fed up. Our schools are closing again. Get with the program, or stay home. If you own a business, follow the rules. Show you aren’t a complete asshole and that you can be slightly inconvenienced for the greater good, and that you have at least some regard for others. I have restrained myself in this post. Don’t make me write another one full of the language I really want to use.