Use Your Words - Remnants of the Pandemic

Today’s post is Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once, and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now. 

My words are:

5x magnification mirror ~ no button ~ bill pay ~ training 

They were submitted by: What TF Sarah - Thank you, Sarah!

Apart from still wearing facemasks at medical facilities, all restrictions have been lifted a couple of weeks ago. 

While some people couldn't wait to jump right back into celebrating the handshake and the being right into your face, most of us still cherish the "achievements" of the pandemic:

• Online groceries orders
• Takeout
• ParkingPay App (no cash and no button pressing required on parking meters)
• Twint (Swiss bill pay app) just scan a QR code or use the recipient's mobile number to transfer money in real time)
• Zoom meetings and trainings
• Working from home
• Appreciation of certain professions like teachers, medical personnel
• Going for nature walks
• Going on vacation locally

What else do we experience coming out of this two years' holding our breaths, waiting for the other shoe to drop?

I don't know about you, but I certainly gained a few gray hair, and my eyesight has deteriorated. My optomologist had bifocal contacts made for me. While I can see better while driving, I'm having difficulties reading tiny numbers and letters at the office. This is where my handy magnifying glass comes into play. 

My coworkers may laugh at me, but I don't care. How else am I going to know whether something is a B or an 8, and don't get me started on 0 and O. 

I'm happy to tell you that I don't require a 5x magnification mirror to insert said contact lenses just yet. Last time at my optician's I did just that, though, and you know what I noticed? My eybrows are not plucked perfectly, and the skin at the corner of my mouth is dry. I never noticed. 

This has not much to do with the virus fading away though.

Sadly, I think one thing that will not go away is people's selfishness and entitlement. Or should we call it "people's empahsis on their personal wellbeing".

Digitalization may or may not support this development. Booking and canceling services has become so easy. You don't have to call a business and tell them "sorry, I can't make it", you just hit the button. Or you don't bother at all and just don't show up. Never mind the consequences for the service provider.

We know several restaurant owners, and they know each other as well, so it didn't take long for them to figure out what certain guests are up to: They book a table, say for ten people, asking for all kinds of special treatment and freebies. Maybe one of the five restaurants they contacted will offer free wine along with the gourmet dinner. Will the guests cancel the other four? No. Why should they? So come Saturday night, four restaurants will have a table for ten sitting there, empty, and it's up to them to try and call the person who made the reservation, undo the setting and move the three tables it took to host a party of ten back into individual tables.

The ratings we give restaurants and retailers after a dinner or a delivery?

It should go the other way, too.

Businesses should be able to rate their customers:

• Did they show up?
• Were they on time?
• Did they behave friendly and politely?
• Did they pay their bill?
• Did they leave a mess?
• Were they overly demanding and bossy?

Similar things occur with employees. Yes, there is full employment and a shortage of skilled workers (at least that's true for my country), but in my book, and according to labor law, it is still the case that the employer has the right to issue instructions, such as working hours, place of work, and the like.

Yes, it's give and take, and yes, it'd be great to have maximal freedom and flexibility, especuially as a working Mom, but if you're employed, you should first and foremost make sure your job is done. 

I couldn't believe my hairdresser. As soon as the work from home mandate was lifted, she got calls from her clients, postponing their appointments. Looks like people working from home got their hair and nails done in the middle of their working day. So basically they had their scheduled Zoom meetings, during which they stayed at home, and the rest was considered time at their disposal, used to run errands and attend appointments.

I was stunned. Don't these people working from home have customers calling during office hours? She added "would you be surprised if I told you that the exact same customers lied to be among the first ones to get vaccinated a year ago? They checked the box "someone in my immediate family is high-risk", giving them advanced appointments, giving them the opportunity to socialze ahead of the rest of us who was waiting their turn."

Talking about this, we got carried away, and we wondered if these are also the people who allow themselves to stand in line at business class, even though they purchased a coach ticket? Are these the people who park in a disabled spot? 

So my question is, will they meet their Karma sooner or later, or will life teach them not only are they right, but they're above the rules?

Let me know what you think.

Please don't leave before checking out my blogger friends' posts:   

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Baking In A Tornado

On the Border 

The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver

Climaxed

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

What TF Sarah