I hope you are enjoying the beginning of getting to the new normal. It seems that the health officials in our state are now saying that masks will be mandated and or recommended and be a common part of our society for a good number of months. This presents a real problem for certain people.
Those in certain professions would have an extremely difficult time doing their job if masks were required. Take coffee tasters, wine tasting, mimes, clowns; can you imagine how scary a made-up clown face would be if a mask was also part of the face?
Seriously though, I’m really talking about people with respiratory problems that are not the Wuhan flu. I’m talking about those that have COPD, asthma, or any non-communicable disease that causes respiratory distress when the air intake is already difficult at best and worsened when mixed with additional carbon dioxide breathed in due to wearing a mask.
Unfortunately, I have a medical condition known as a paralyzed left diaphragm. For those that don’t know, the diaphragm is what helps the lungs inflate to take in air and helps them deflate to exhale air. My left lung operates but at a greatly reduced level. So much so that I must force myself to sleep on my left side so that my fully-functioning right lung can operate, without pressure from the bed, at peak performance when I sleep.
On nights when I don’t notice that I am in any other position for a long time, the next day is pretty useless for me due to being so tired from reduced oxygen intake all night. This may be TMI (too much information) but I thought it was necessary to let everyone know that I may not be able to return to work until masks are no longer required OR recommended. I can’t take the chance of catching the Wuhan flu which leads to a respiratory issue when I already have one to contend with. Not to mention I am a little over 30 years old (yes I am that old!). Seriously though, my chances of surviving this strain of the COVID disease are much less than a young, healthy person with no underlying issues.
Masks may no longer be suggested at some point but at the same time, YOU may want to were a mask OR you may want me to wear a mask. If there is any question about mask-wearing by me, I’m afraid we may no longer be a fit for each other. I pray that you understand.
At this point, I can’t tell you when but I want it to be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Susan and I will continue our home projects and taking to the RV to visit other states every few weeks. So far during this Pandemic, we have visited campgrounds in many places. We have stayed in the middle of a vineyard Mt. Joy, PA, stayed in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and a whole week in Tennesse.
I’ll keep updating here at least weekly. Take care and stay safe!
-George