As a person who had a recent stroke and felt vulnerable at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, I fully embraced wearing face coverings, washing hands and being socially distant. In fact I was the first one in my group to wear a face covering and retrofitted my beautiful neck scarves to cover my nose and mouth effectively. Since that time, I have bought fashionable cloth masks and surgical masks and was diligent to wear 2 at a time when instructed.
Now RI is open. Starting today, anyone who had been fully vaccinated does not have to wear a mask in most social situations. The only exceptions are in health care, nursing homes and congregate housing and any businesses that want to have a mask mandate still. I have been fully vaccinated for a while, but still don't feel entirely comfortable taking my mask off or even seeing people in public not wearing one.
My logical self knows that I most likely will be safe. And I also know a piece of me wants to continue to have the excuse not to have to speak with people in public. It has been so nice to go about my business without having to have informal conversations or being able to point to things I want instead of asking or even being able to show my license or credit card to a clerk instead of telling them my name. For a person with aphasia and apraxia of speech this has a welcome change.
When the pandemic first started, I was just starting to go out in public to talk to others. I had been taking speech therapy for a year and knew that in order to progress I needed to take the leap and talk to people other than my family. It was hard but I was doing well.
Then, masking Up had given me the excuse I needed.
Now I know I'll have to be brave again. I'll have to talk in public again. But when will I be ready. For now..... who knows?
Is there anyone else who has used the mask as an excuse not to talk?
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