I was yelled at for going to a concert

Do I need to feel guilty?

Firefighters playing the pipes and drums — photo by Shefali O’Hara

Yesterday I attended a concert by the Round Rock Firefighters. They were having an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration, playing the bagpipes and drums at several outdoor locations in my community.

I felt so happy to go out and show my support for the firefighters who help keep us safe. The weather was perfect and the mood was festive.

Because of Covid-19, people were keeping their distance, out of a sense of caution. Yet they would smile at each other.

When I got home from the concert, I immediately washed my hands for the recommended 20 seconds. I’ve been vigilant about doing this for the last few weeks, and really careful not to touch my face.

I felt happy until I shared photos of the concert on social media.

I immediately got blasted with angry messages from friends in Seattle.

“Don’t you know what a risk you are creating for your mother?” asked one.

“We need to be quarantining ourselves! You should know better!” said another.

I immediately felt guilty and worried.

Texas has declared a state of emergency. SXSW has been cancelled, as have most events. The local symphony cancelled their performance of the…