Update: March 13th 2026
My loved one is recovering fine from Gall Bladder surgery..
We've been doing our masked walks a few days in row...
Insofar as masking around her and masking in the rooms she occupies for almost two weeks straight Ive done fine...
I did start to falter with food the last few days. Typically I would microwave a plate of food and take it back to my room and wash my hands and take off my mask eating in a private room but I failed in a sense just the the last few days by eating a couple plates of food without microwaving it first. So technically I failed at taking all precations for the full 2 weeks(for that 14 day covid incubation period). If she had somehow contracted covid its possible I could get covid from eating those dishes. Except for the last three days with eating some food she prepared without really nuking it in the microwave, I have continued to mask around her and in the rooms she occupied. This seems kind of stupid on my part to skimp on nuking my meals the last three days since Ive been so good about doing everything else so I won't let that happen again.
She's doing great no signs of having gotten any airborne illness or airborne disease after her hospital surgery and one more day and I can take my mask off when I'm around her.
Overall I have been successful masking and still carrying on with her...I guess it also helps to think I'm in training and that from this experience I'll be in good practice to mask around her after I take her to the dentist. Its not easy but the longer one does it, the more natural it feels. Overall the experience gives me confidence I can mask again for the net possible exposure she might have.
Later folks.. now in an n95 mask for one more evening I go sit in the easy chair and watch tv. She is doing well and is writing stories for substack on her little computer.
She has a checkup in a couple days. I'd say we are doing pretty good. I've only gotten stronger for having masked around her to be on the safe side. I am glad I masked to be on the safe side. Using the mask kept me in a favorable position where I could continue to be strong for us
It takes a certain kind of discipline to mask inside your own home around loved ones but then again its a such a great skill to have and power to have. Other animals can't do that for themselves. It pretty priceless to be able to control the odds as to whether one might get sick or not by being able to wear a mask... masking a great tool to to ensure safety and being able to secure one health. I didn't have anybody else that would take care of me just incase she brought home a virus and got me sick from the hospital(even though we masked at the hospital and the doctors and nurses were ordered to mask).. there was and is no one that will help me if I got sick.. so I had to mask anyway.
Anyway its all in a day's work because Ive' masked outside my home anyway for over six years now with success. Tomorrow I'll be able to unmask around my loved one again in our home but things are hard enough as they are, ain't no way I'm giving up my masking outdoors and outside the home! My idea is we don't just mask because we are weak or vulnerable.. we mask to maintain whatever strength we got. We mask outside and publicly to keep and maintain whatever health we have.
Gotta tell ya my reality is nobody is going to come to my aid in a mask and help me. when it comes down to it, there's nobody I know but me to protect myself with a mask. Maybe someday that will change.. I hope so but I'm masking just the same whether that day comes or not. My masked way of life is working for me so far.
