Reflection from May 2020: I Went Out in the World Today

Written Tuesday, May 12, 2020

I went out in the world today. It was scary. I was anxious. I didn't sleep well the previous two nights. Since shelter-at-home started 8 weeks ago, I rarely get in the car. I go pick up our take-out orders from local restaurants. I've been to the church building. I've been to my treasurer's house and to a church member's farm where my children can play outside. That's it. I've filled up my tank of gas once. It almost needs it again - because of today's outings. Today I went for my infusion in Olney. I had to wear a mask for two and a half hours straight! It was annoying. However, I did sleep for about one to one and a half of those hours. It was the first time I'd been inside another building. The receptionist had to pull up her mask when I walked in, as did the nurse when I entered the infusion room. It was weird and different and scary. We're all trying not to get each other sick. We're all praying we're not already infected. We're trying to do what needs to get done medically.

This afternoon I saw my eye specialist. I have ocular rosacea and am followed by a doctor who opened her own practice up in Hunt Valley. I noticed DOT has decided to re-pave parts of I-70 and I-695 while there are so many fewer cars on the road. At my eye specialist, they had screens up around the receptionist desk. The chairs in the reception area had been turned around to prevent anyone from sitting in them. I'd had to docu-sign that I wasn't symptomatic and promise to wear a mask and come alone. The receptionist wore a mask and a surgical head covering. My eye doctor, usually very fashionable, wore scrubs, glasses, surgical mask and head covering. She did touch my face while examining my eyes. We talked about life at home with our kids, although hers are older than mine. Oh - and she met me in reception and held the door for me on the way in and out of the exam room area. For my follow-up in four weeks (because my eyes are swollen and she's putting me on steroid drops for two weeks) we're doing tele-medicine on ZOOM or Facetime. Good grief.

It was stressful. Like eat the m&m's I'd been saving for a bad day stressful. I wasn't exhausted, probably because of that morning nap, but it was hard and I was glad to be home again.