Masking is so normalized in my home that when I get a new N95 out of the drawer where I store them, my cat knows I’m leaving the house. And then she goes to her room (where she likes to stay while I’m out).

Had a good chat about C19 with my Uber driver. I told him that even though he’s vaxxed, C19 is dangerous and he should wear a respirator (and roll down windows) when he has ppl in his car. I gave him a N95. He put it on and we shook hands when he dropped me off. Glad we talked.

I was at the supermarket today and thanked an employee for masking. She told me how one of her adult sons had LC, lost his job, and now has arthritis. Her other son is “sick all the time” and she doesn’t want to spread “whatever he has.”

Cats against borders.

I don’t know how I didn’t get COVID in my recent 10+ day travels in New York and Canada. Oh wait. Maybe it’s because I masked indoors and in crowded places outdoors, ate outdoors, made sure my AirBnBs were ventilated, and used my air purifier.

My dad passed away last night after getting COVID in late August. Before COVID, his (maskless) doctors thought he had maybe 6-12 months left. My dad was dying of cancer and dementia and was about to start at home hospice, but COVID killed him first. He deserved so much better.

Just bought some COVID tests. The maskless pharmacist said: “thank you for wearing a mask if you’re sick.” I told her “I’m not sick as far as I know and am trying to keep it that way. For both of us. “ She just looked at me. Why are HCWs like this?

I went into a liquor store and the cashier said aggressively “no masks allowed! We had an incident. No masks!” I said “Really? That’s too bad. I was going to buy a nice bottle of bourbon. I guess you don’t want my money.” Then he yelled “get the f*** out of my store!”

The public transport ride share driver who picked me up a few minutes ago was wearing a N95. He told me he stopped masking because he hated being the only person doing it. Then he got C19 2X and has been masking ever since. Public health has failed us politically and ethically.

My position was eliminated from the city’s FY 2026 budget. So the number of maskers in the health department will go from 1 to 0 after I leave.

My elderly mom rarely masks despite losing my dad to C19 less than 1 yr ago. She was exposed to C19 recently, but still had guests over. She did wear a mask fortunately and offered them to guests. They said “no thanks” despite knowing my mom was exposed. One is an oncology nurse

I used to think that IN THIS HOUSE WE BELIEVE people would start masking again if they could actually see the harm they cause by not masking. But I don’t think that anymore.