The Mask

Sometimes a blog topic is right under (or over) my nose.

As I work to support the development of my new immune system, I need to remember that there are a few sacrifices that I need to make along this part of the path.

One is that I need to be prepared to be cooped-up in the house for days/weeks on end in order to avoid being exposed to innocent though insidious germs like the cold or flu which can have more dramatic effects on me than most immuned people – especially during this particularly virulent flu season that we are having.  Cabin fever is a small price to pay.

The vigilance of constant washing-of-the-hands is yet another defense mechanism that I bring to the fight.  It seems so simple, so analog; but having clean hands and keeping them away from the nose and mouth (harder than it sounds) goes a long way toward avoiding germ-invasion.  Chapped hands (from aggressive washing) is a small price to pay.

And another compromising aspect of this “moment” is my need to arm myself with the gauzy guard of a surgical mask whenever I do have to venture out into the quagmire of malicious micro-organisms (mostly for visits to the doctor’s office).  These masks are weird, uncomfortable and conspicuous.  And at times I feel like the people who are sick should wear a mask to protect ME, not I who should be wearing the mask to safeguard myself from them.  It hardly seems fair, but in the end it is I who will benefit from this fabric sentinel.  A little mask time is a small price to pay.