Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Mask


I am in the bus going home from work as of this writing. I started wearing medical masks of the ordinary kind the very first day I started working again, which was 2 weeks ago. I am now in the day shift which makes me take the train less, so I take the bus more often than ever before to and from work. Regarding the mask, today, and I mean just earlier, when the bus was so full; I noticed that no one wants to sit beside me. I am currently sitting in the 3 seater seat near the very back of the bus and an old guy in his early 40s (I think) is sitting beside the window on the same seat where I am at. I caught him staring at me like I'm some sick guy. Earlier, the bus was so full, there were a lot of people standing, and almost nobody dared to sit beside me even if I was already moving towards the window. I think there were only two people who sit beside me and both transferred seats when they had the opportunity, even if the seat was only in front of where they were and it was just as full.

So this mask makes me look like some sick guy? It does bother me in a way, it did actually, but why would I be bothered about what other people think about me, when it is my own health that I am protecting. They are just effing scared, I can't blame them; so am I, I don't want to catch any opportunistic infections along the way while I'm commuting.

In all fairness, I was hurt.

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13 comments:

  1. AlexAugust 28, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    Don't mind those people. Good thing that you're doing everything to protect yourself. That's one very positive sign about your will to live. Live long and be happy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. blissfulguroAugust 28, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    hi there, i'm new here... i can so relate with you... my mom is a kidney transplant patient for a year now and she also wears disposable masks like yours... we were once hurt when people would actually stare at her with their eyes questioning... but in time, we learned how to just laugh about it... they just don't understand that it is not my mom that is sick that's why she's wearing masks, IT'S THEIR VIRUSES and stuff that we are avoiding... be strong:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mac CallisterAugust 28, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    hayaan mo nalang sila...atleast wala ka masasagap na germs along the way di ba. May ganyan talaga at di mo yun maiaalis sa knila :-0

    ReplyDelete
  4. Noah GAugust 28, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    haay. talk about stigma. tsk tsk. yaan mo sila. hinde lang talaga nila naiintindihan dahil wala naman talaga silang alam. aja lang!

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  5. LianneAugust 28, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Oh, ignore them. It's good that you were protecting your health, though. All the best to you. Be strong!

    ReplyDelete
  6. citybuoyAugust 29, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    My sister had to wear those masks for a while. She felt alienated and people rudely stared at her sa public. To support her, we all wore it too when we went out. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownAugust 29, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Hi - my first time to read blogs about being an HIV positive. I know it is not easy and I salute your courage and strength. Take care always. I wish to meet you one day and discuss some things.

    I am HIV-negative though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. CanonistaAugust 29, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Thank you to all the kind and supportive words, everyone! I will continue to embrace life and live, thank you for your support and thank you so much for reading the story of my lif.

    To that someone who personally knows me, don't worry, nobody will recognize that photo of mine, I'm wearing a mask, who would recognize those eyes anyway. Thanks for the concern 'though. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. RyanAugust 29, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    It's okay to feel hurt. You're doing what you ought to do, protecting your health. That should be enough. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. eskayAugust 30, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I'm in healthcare service and I commiserate with what you're going through.

    Isa kang inspirasyon.

    Nagback read ako ng blog mo and I can't put into words what I feel.

    Salamat sa pagsilip at pagsunod sa aking munting silid aklatan.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    deadma lang...

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    I was hurt just reading this. I can only imagine how YOU felt. Sigh. People can be so narrow-minded. :( Hugs, my friend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. RainDarwinSeptember 20, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    ngayon ko lang nabasa tong blog mo sana mabasa mo ang comment ko.

    siguro napipikon ka sakin sa twitter, kasi I treat you normal. Kung ano ang pang-aalaska ko sa iba, ginagawa ko rin sayo kasi nga i treat you a healthy person yung walang sakit.

    Normal life kasi ang kailangan mo and that comes from the people treating you a normal healthy person. cheers.

    ReplyDelete

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