Human nature is a funny and weird mystery.
Some people do odd things and I scratch my head. During COVID-19, I’m taking action in regards to these odd behaviours because there is an extra layer of danger in some people’s actions.
Like eating in restaurants.
We’re allowed to have sit-down meals now and a few Burnaby restaurants are reopening again.
It was a tough decision to start having sit-down meals again. I’m still doing mostly takeout, but in some cases, I finally feel comfortable sitting in the actual restaurant because of the precautions eateries are taking.
But it wasn’t an easy decision. I’m still hyper-vigilant about being exposed to other people and take constant precautions to wash my hands, wear a mask and not touch my face.
Wearing a mask, of course, isn’t easy in a restaurant because you have to eat. Taking it off in public comes with some trepidation because I’m over the age of 50 and at increased risk of death if I get COVID-19.
I expect others to be just as hyper-vigilant, but am continuously let down. Case in point, going to Pho 99, an excellent Vietnamese restaurant next to SFU on Burnaby Mountain. They just reopened for business, and my friend and I dropped by on a whim for some pho.
The restaurant seats a lot of people, but it was virtually empty except for the staff and one dude sit way on the other side of the room.
So, my friend and I are eating when two young males walk in. I can see the server telling them to sit wherever they want and the two guys – who are not wearing masks - taking a moment to survey the empty room.
So, what do these two do? Do they go sit somewhere away from everyone else? No, of course they don’t. That would take common sense.
What these two decide to do is sit right behind us, less than six feet way.
I nearly choked on my squid as I processed what just took place. Then I took the photo attached to this column as proof and spoke to the two men.
I asked why, in a room full of empty tables, they decided to sit close to us. The two looked confused about why I was asking. I pointed to the COVID-19 warning signs and said if they knew about the request from health officials to keep their distance.
They just shrugged. So my friend and I had to pick up our dishes and physically move away from them.
It’s crazy how many people are still not taking this pandemic seriously.
I mean, I’ve had people sit next to me in an empty movie theatre before and that was just weird.
This kind of behaviour is on an entirely different level. People, be better.
If we're going to make this reopening thing a success, we need to follow some basic rules and commond sense.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
