This is a story about choices and how they can affect us all.

About a month ago, when it appeared the Oklahoma COVID situation was getting better, a group of friends decided we’d rent a van and go out to dinner for my birthday. /1

We chose a date a few weeks ahead and made plans to go on Fri., June 26. We picked a restaurant in rural Oklahoma, south of Oklahoma City. It doesn’t matter which restaurant. It’s not about that. The first bad choice I made was to not postpone it. After all, cases had spiked. /2

There’s no way we should have been going out in a group to a restaurant. None of us were sick, but it just wasn’t a wise choice. My fault, for sure. I should have spoken up.

So we got to the restaurant and walked in. The second bad decision I made was to not walk out. /3

We should have walked out immediately. The place was packed. Probably about 100 people. All indoors. No one was wearing a mask. No one.

One of the people in our group said, “If we don’t have the Rona yet, we’ve definitely got it now.” We should have left. My fault again. /4

The wait staff, the servers, no one. No one was wearing a mask. This wasn’t a choice I made. This was a choice they made. It’s a selfish one, perhaps maybe it’s just an ignorant one. Either way, it’s unacceptable. Everyone knows the harm in not wearing a mask. /5

And realizing that, I should have - we all should have - walked out. Being in the food service industry and choosing not to have your staff wear masks is essentially saying, “We don’t care about the health of our customers.” It was my choice to stay, though. /6

That was Friday. I got home, felt fine all weekend, but on Monday started feeling sick. Aches, fever, chills. You know. Got tested Tuesday and am positive for COVID. Six of the eight people in our group that night are also positive. Perhaps it all could have been avoided. /7

If I had made better choices and if others had made better choices, this certainly could have turned out better. It’s embarrassing and selfish and irresponsible for people to not wear masks. It was also a terrible choice for me to not have postponed the outing. /8

I had been careful until Friday. Always wore a mask. Distanced myself from others. It wasn’t enough. All of our choices affect others. As of today, we have contacted the county health department about our outing, and I have talked to the people I have been near. /9

We should all make better choices. I’m guilty here, too. It’s up to us to be smarter. I understand why people want to go out and be with their friends. I don’t understand why people in customer service willingly choose not to wear masks. Let’s think of each other. Be empathetic.