Whatever Happened To Hairnets?

I was watching a morning piece about a new bakery in Portland.  The doughnuts sure looked yummy and I was enjoying the shout-out, UNTIL...

The gal filling the 'nuts flipped her 2-foot ponytail out of her face before she began squirting for the camera.

Ugh.  I instantly flashed back to the time a fellow volunteer invited me to a local Austin coffee shop.  I didn't have my own car  (just my motorhome) so it was always a treat to go anywhere outside of the Community First Village.

I've been intimidated by modern Coffee Shops since 1994, when I was introduced to my first Starbuck's, in Portland, OR, by a co-worker. Tino and I had recently moved to the city, and we usually drank the plain-old at-home kind, with cream.  You know those confusing menu boards; I stared like a deer in the headlights.  Ms. Vicki ordered her iced-double-shot-espresso-hazlenut-whatever; and when it was my turn I pointed and said, you know already,

"I'll have what she's having."

It's been that way ever since,  for I never order alone.  Fast-forward to 2017 and it was pretty much the same experience with Lesslye; except for my horror at the kids behind the counter: 20-somethings, one who was sleeveless (with underarm hair, I'm not certain now) and her wild head-hair without a net.  The young man preparing food was similarly netless.  Lesslye might remembers it differently, but it's my story...

I thougt it was the law, but I don't eat out often enough to know for certain.   It seems a sensible policy to help ensure public health, like no rat droppings in their kitchen; but perhaps hairnets are as aversive to wear as masks were during Covid.  And what about gloves?

"Anything to eat?"

Were they kidding?  I felt old and out of touch amidst Austin's COOL crowd. I felt the same in Eugene; and Portland, I suppose.  I remember the original Hippies, and what we see nowadays are cheap imitations.

I don't know about you, but strands of my hair fall out all the time. Not all at once, thankfully; but regardless, would you want to eat my DNA?

So that's today's rant.  Maybe it was just a crack I made to Lesslye about, "What's next - underarm hair?"  I wouldn't be surprised.