Why I Wear A Mask

It’s been 78 days now since I was last able to put my hand on my Dad’s shoulder and tell him I love him. March 5th was the last time I was with him, the day I took this photo. My Dad lives in a local long term care facility that has been locked down to protect the vulnerable veterans that reside there. I 100% support and appreciate the caution and effort that has gone in to keeping the residents safe. I wear a mask when I go into stores, coffee shops and other crowded indoor areas. I don’t want to play any role whatsoever in spreading the virus in our community. I wear a mask to support the workers at my Dad’s facility and every other local long term care facility in our area. They worry every day about picking it up out in the community and then taking it back and passing it to the residents they serve. I wear a mask to support the workers that have to come in contact with people all day long. I wear a mask because I don’t want cases to spike in our community and cause anymore economic destruction. I wear a mask because I want to keep the number of cases in Douglas County at near zero so the restrictions on visitors will be lifted at our long term care facilities so families and friends can visit their loved ones once again. I wear a mask because I want to visit my Dad and give him a hug again. So if you see me wearing my mask, just know it’s not a political statement or some ideological signal. And if you choose not to wear one, I’m not silently judging you.