Actual self isolation day 38

Anyone who has worked with me, part of my family or spent any time with me knows I have this crazy bronchial asthmatic cough. I have had it my whole life. I have made children in my life cry when I have had an attack. My mom tells stories about being looked at in the grocery store when I was a toddler that she was a horrible mother for bringing her child out with ‘that’ cough.

In my past lives in a call centre environment I was even asked to leave the office space. The cough is part of my asthma and once it starts it can take months to recover from. My reply to this person at work was simple, “are you going to pay my mortgage and bills while I stay home” (this was before working remote was an option.

I went to Paris in February 2006 and due to the dampness and the feather pillows in the hotel I was sick before the end of the trip and my cough was full swing. I should include this was just after SARS was finally under control. At the airport on the way home I was sitting in the “non smoking” section (if you have been to Paris you know that is an oxymoron) and every time I coughed I got the death stare. I can say that I almost thought I would not be allowed on the flight.

I was fortunate to attend my Hamilton performance on February 29th. This was the VERY early stages of Covid and I remember commenting that the theatre was full and there wasn’t a mask to be seen. However, I did cough right before the performance started and the woman in front me shuddered, move forward in her seat and turned around to shoot me a look of disdain. That was BC – BEFORE COVID.

I just finished watching a piece on the Today show about coughing. Let’s just say that there is a reason why the masks are important. Very important. Made me very anxious. Anxious of post-isolation life and how we will treat each other.

In the coming days and I weeks I am going to be sharing my ‘covid confessionals’. I feel like the conversations I have been having with my friends are very thought provoking and I am sure many are having conversations with your friend and family groups about the same concerns.

I would love to hear how you are feeling about this post and any other thoughts you may have. Continuing an open and honest conversation about current life and post isolation life and what it could look like.

Until then, please stay home when possible, and when you need to go out, stay safe.

and wash your hands,

Until next time,

Lisa