I Saw Him Naked Faced

COVID times are strange times. Hopefully, things are changing

We saw each other at Costco near the melons. “Hi, there!” he said. “Hi!” I answered.

I was glad to see him.

​We knew each other but with masks on it was hard to put a name to a face. 

I saw him again in the freezing cold room where they keep the berries and the big bags of baby spinach.

I finished my shopping. Found the taquitos and the cilantro potstickers. Picked up my prescriptions. Got shampoo. Didn’t take long because Costco isn’t nearly as much fun without the food samples: quesadillas cut into little wedges and the apple cheese sausage chunks.

The checkers were even more efficient than usual at the checkout stand. Amazing every time. How do they train those people?

I hauled my stuff out to the parking lot, and there he was.

When I saw his naked face, I knew he wasn’t anyone I recognized at all. He didn’t recognize me either.

We tried to cover.


HIM: Nice day outside.
ME: Beautiful weather.


HIM: I feel like I know you. Do you do yoga?
ME: I do, how about you?
HIM: Yup! I practice several times a week at Juniper Tree on the East Side.
ME: That’s great, I practice at NamaSpa on the West Side.


HIM: How about pickleball? Do you play pickleball?
ME: No, but it sure sounds fun. I have lots of friends who play.


HIM: Oh, well. Hmm. That’s strange, you looked so familiar. I hope you have a nice day.
ME: Yeah, bye now. You, too.


End scene. Another confusing COVID encounter was over. Sometimes I think I recognize a complete stranger in public. The next I don’t know a good friend in line at Bellatazza.

Like you, I’m trying to hang on to some semblance of normal life. I get socially distanced decaf coffee in the morning. Take long walks in Drake Park mostly to and from my office where I work virtually. I practice yoga from my living room.


These have been very unusual times. But hopefully, they’ll get better soon.