Russ's Ravings: Mask On, Mask Off, Both Choices Should Be Honored

Editor's note: The following is Patch North Jersey Regional Manager Russ Crespolini's column. It is reflective of his opinion alone.

People took to the bars, the casino's the dance floors and the streets to celebrate the removal of the "face diaper" Friday as the most stringent of the COVID masking mandates fell away leaving it up to a combination of the individual business owner and/or the patron to decide what is best for them.

And no matter where you fall on the mask debate spectrum, you will most likely be confronted by people who do not agree with your position out and about this Memorial Day weekend. You may encounter naked faces for the first time in 15 months, and it may seem unsettling or exciting or a little bit of both.

Your favorite restaurant or store may be holding mask burning events at their entrance or they may be insisting that patrons still keep their faces covered.

No matter your position it is imperative that you respect the decision of others. If you are fully-vaccinated and your favorite bar is still requiring masks in order to protect their employees? Choose another one for right now.

If your usual clothing store or convenience store is still letting nude lips and noses run free and that makes you anxious, find a new spot for the time being.

What you don't want to do is harass and harangue the people working at these places and their ownership for their choice. You don't want to deride people who are choosing to stay masked, or chide those who are unmasking.

First, because what other people do for themselves and their business really isn't a concern of yours and your opinion of it doesn't matter. And also because there are valid reasons for staying masked even if you are fully vaccinated.

I was talking to one of my oldest friends who noted that his daughter, like mine, is still too young to get vaccinated. So if she has to go into school and a store and a restaurant masked, then he will because it just isn't fair to her.

And I happen to agree with that. I also noticed that this season I did not get a cold or any of the annoying minor illnesses I normally get while masked. So I will be keeping a mask for the next cold and flu season.

But this doesn't mean I will not be taking advantage of my new freedom where I can. For example, will be removing my mask to do cardio at the gym. For the past year as I sweat and struggled on the elliptical machine, gasping so hard I was afraid I would inhale the mask on my face and choke to death I swore the instant I could lose the thing I would.

So for cardio workouts, my face will be nude.

But when I am moving about the gym to enter and exit and to use the weight machines I will remain masked. I feel most comfortable this way.

And that is what each of us must find as we move forward.

What we are comfortable with.

And when we find it for ourselves we should not expect it to be replicated in others.

Russ Crespolini is the North Jersey Regional Manager for Patch Media, an adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association.

He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. He can be reached at russ.crespolini@patch.com