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by Jamie Thompson
April 8, 2021
Every Friday, I treat my seven-year-old to a donut. It’s a small joy we hold onto as we navigate the chaos of the past 13 months. She eagerly anticipates it, counting down the days, so I keep this tradition alive to lift her spirits. I view it as a reward for enduring five days of pandemic schooling, where hugs and lunch conversations with friends are off the table.
Last Wednesday, even though she was on spring break, the countdown began: “Just two more days until my donut!” In the midst of our activities, she would excitedly ponder whether to add sprinkles.
So, on a sunny yet unexpectedly chilly Friday afternoon, we found ourselves in a lengthy line at a donut shop. I opted for one a bit farther from home, drawn by the drive-thru convenience and the chance to pass the time.
It had been a grueling week, and as many have expressed, a long year. I was grappling with the emotional weight we’ve all felt since the pandemic began: bone-deep fatigue, relentless boredom, and a constant sense of dread. This week, however, introduced a new feeling I hadn’t encountered until now.
On her last day of school before the break, my daughter rushed home, excitedly sharing that her teacher was off to California for spring break and a classmate was going on a Disney cruise. Other families were also traveling—some visiting relatives, others simply sightseeing. Each day of her break saw over a million travelers passing through TSA checkpoints, while we remained homebound.
I’m not vaccinated, and the CDC advises against travel until I am, so we spent our break confined to our driveway, living room, and kitchen. Many outdoor activities were booked up due to COVID restrictions, compounded by the cold snap, making those options even less appealing. I squeezed my work into a few hours each morning while my daughter entertained herself with YouTube. I then poured my all into teaching her to ride her bike in our driveway, playing spies with walkie-talkies, learning choreography from the “Treat People with Kindness” video, and competing in our homemade version of the Netflix baking show “Sugar Rush,” where we concoct themed snacks (like sleepovers) while I spend the next half-hour cleaning up.
Some of that might sound idyllic. But after 13 months as my child’s primary playmate, this week of enforced fun nearly broke me. I tried to limit my social media scrolling, avoiding images of friends in new locales, hugging relatives, or crowded together in group photos. When one caught my eye, I took a deep breath, reminding myself that perhaps they were all fully vaccinated, though the odds were slim. Still, I was genuinely happy for them; they deserved a break.
But that feeling only lasts so long.
For reasons unknown, the drive-thru line at the donut shop dragged on forever, and we crawled forward for 25 minutes before it was finally our turn. As I approached the window, my daughter exclaimed from the backseat, “Mom, he’s not wearing a mask!” Surely she must be mistaken, I thought to myself.
Nope.
As I reached the drive-thru window, the young employee handed us her donut, smiled, and wished us a nice day. My daughter was right: He was completely unmasked. It wasn’t even hanging from his ear or pulled down; it was simply absent. (But what if he has a medical reason for not wearing a mask? Unlikely.)
I was taken aback. I hadn’t seen a stranger’s teeth so closely in months. Unsure how to react, I grabbed the donut bag and sped off, tossing it into the front seat and informing my daughter she couldn’t eat it.
I know that surfaces are not a significant source of transmission; the donut was probably safe to eat. But I was furious—I felt violated by that toothy grin and wanted her to understand that this behavior was unacceptable.
We drove another 15 minutes back to our local donut shop, which doesn’t have a drive-thru, dodging indoor diners to get her donut (no sprinkles).
There’s been plenty to be angry about in recent months. I’ve always been perturbed by those who disregard COVID guidelines. However, at this point in the pandemic, anyone’s carefree approach sends me into a blind rage. I’ve been simmering about that drive-thru encounter for days.
I understand why people are tired of adhering to guidelines—believe me. But we’re SO CLOSE to overcoming this. SO CLOSE! Every unvaccinated person who discards their mask, travels without quarantining, or invites friends over for dinner because they’re lonely complicates things for the rest of us. I yearn to do those things too, but their actions prolong my wait. It feels like I’m stuck in that drive-thru line, watching others pull ahead while I remain in the same spot.
According to the New York Times, people in my area face a “very high risk” of COVID-19 exposure (hospitalizations are up 42%), meaning we should avoid nonessential travel. During the five days my kid was out of school, over 4,000 Americans lost their lives to COVID. And have you heard about the situation in Michigan?
I reached out to friends who are also trying to stay vigilant about COVID, and they share the same intense frustration with rule-breakers. One unvaccinated parent, who also spent spring break at home, mentioned that several of her colleagues recently traveled to Jamaica and England. “Have you screamed recently?” she asked. When I explained that my child is always around, she suggested I lock myself in my car. “It takes a few tries to release that anger,” she added.
I’ll give it a shot. In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoyed their spring break. If you went somewhere fabulous and aren’t vaccinated, please spare me the details.
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Summary:
In reflecting on a frustrating drive-thru experience at a donut shop, the author expresses anger over the lack of adherence to COVID guidelines. Despite her efforts to create joyful moments for her child during a challenging year, the encounter with an unmasked employee served as a reminder of the ongoing pandemic struggles. The author underscores the shared frustration among those who continue to take precautions, highlighting the emotional toll of waiting for normalcy while others act carelessly.