Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Life in the Ville has sure changed since March. Excuse me for straying from my usual format of discussing a light hearted topic from Somerville’s past. But, as a citizen of Somerville, I need to discuss our present and our future. I live here and every day I see how individuals are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, I’m one of the pro mask people. As far as I can see, it’s a simple way we can try to help quell this ongoing and debilitating virus. I just turned 67 and I have friends and loved ones in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. I have many family members in their 80’s. I also have children and young grandchildren. Our family has been very diligent in our efforts to be safe, sane, somewhat secluded, and very sanitary.

Throughout popular culture masks have been a sign of strength. Heroes like Batman, Zorro and The Lone Ranger wore masks while performing feats of valor and strength. Ok, so they wore them over their eyes, but you get the point.

Today, Dr Fauci and other qualified medical experts tell us that a mask is one of the best ways we can slow the spread of this virus that has changed and threatened our lives. Along with social distancing, and hand washing, many are convinced that masks are very important. We are advised that wearing a face mask is the smart and safe way to go.

Yet around our city the maskless still persist on ignoring this important advice. Logical, scientific advice. Some people don’t wear masks because it goes against their “constitutional rights.” Others still believe the COVID-19 pandemic is a hoax started by the Democrats. Tell that to the families of the more than 170,000 people who have died.

It’s such a simple thing to do yet some still fight it. You could be a carrier with no symptoms that could pass the virus onto others, including family members. In my age group and my circle of friends and loved ones it’s simply a deadly situation.

Powder House Park, Saturday mid-July, around 9:00 a.m. Various pockets of people, kids and unleashed dogs and very few masks. Then a woman runs through the park without a mask, huffing and puffing past other people.

Ten minutes later a male runner with no mask comes the other way sweating and wheezing. I had to hold my tongue. Without a mask you could see the smug, know it all looks on their faces. Why should they care about the weak and elderly that they could be infecting? They probably don’t know about my 91-year-old Somerville friend who survived a serious and scary bout with COVID-19. I call it a miracle. I have two other younger Somerville friends that have recovered from the virus.

The thing that gets me is that some people are convinced that they have a right to ignore the advice and warnings of top, highly accredited medical professionals. “I have my rights!” Yes, you do. It’s hard for a young healthy person to comprehend the fact that this virus can kill them and others. Yet people of all ages insist on possibly spreading germs that could kill someone we love by not doing something simple like wearing a mask. A small task in a war against a pandemic that is still very much among us.

If a person won’t wear a mask, I wonder if they’re washing their hands properly or social distancing, etc. Probably not.

Even some of my Trump supporter friends who swore that the pandemic was a hoax have been wearing masks lately.

This thing isn’t going away easily. We need to be more COVID aware. And please remember to social distance when you’re in a store. Too many are walking right in front of people. No distancing and no “excuse me.”

Thanks to my friends in the Ville for sending photos of their masks. I can’t believe the wide variety now available. It’s become a huge business.

A national mask mandate which should have been enacted months ago is drastically needed, especially since the rate of children being infected is rising.

Stay safe and please consider others when you decide whether or not to wear a mask. Hopefully, a safe vaccine will be available soon and testing will become easier with faster results.

Back to reminiscing about Somerville’s past next week.