By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

The first day of some ill-conceived declaration of independence from mask-wearing has commenced and to be honest, it is just like all the other days we have lived with since, oh, for about the past year.

My wife and I went to our neighborhood grocery store in Princeton, Texas. We donned our masks. I scanned the store and noticed just about everyone else wearing masks, too. It gives me some measure of hope that most Texans are going to keep on keeping on with the masks and social distancing … regardless of the proclamation from Gov. Greg Abbott that he is lifting the mask order.

You can count me as one of the majority of Texas residents who still have concern that the mask-lifting order is premature. Abbott said Texans know what to do. Sure they do. I am hoping they continue to demonstrate their willingness to actually do what they know to be correct. This first day gives me reason to hope.

However, I also remain concerned that Abbott’s effort to gin up business activity had to include this lifting of the mask order.

In a related matter, I also am going to shy away from using the word “anniversary” to mark the year that has passed since the COVID virus was declared a pandemic. You celebrate joyous events with the word “anniversary.” This doesn’t qualify.

For now, I will go about my day the way I have been living every day since the pandemic gripped the nation by the throat. I don’t know when I’ll resume what we used to know as “normal” living.