mcscanay: Working behind the mask

mcscanay: Working behind the mask: "It has become a way of life for me to be working from behind a mask. It is a way for me to survive in the environment in which I work with ..."

Working behind the mask

It has become a way of life for me to be working from behind a mask.
It is a way for me to survive in the environment in which I work with all that is toxic
around me.

I get some wild stares from folks who are not aware of my illness those that are
not yet affected by chemicals in way that I am.

Some think I am contagious and shy away others are freaked out by it and also
turn away.  Some ask why I am wearing it, I try to explain in the most simple of
terms that I have a high sensitivity  to all chemicals to all smells.

Today I met another canary at work, she is such a nice woman and I told her how
beautiful the color of her shirt was.  I also shared that I had a lip stick
at home that was the same color.   When she asked me why I didn't wear it I explained
to her about my extreme sensitivity to all chemicals.

She said she understood that she had to use products that contain no scents too.

I told her that is why I must wear the mask at work do to all the fragrances from the others
working there as well as the new carpet and recent refurbishing work that had been recently completed in the office.


She understood ...It was a start..... Now I know that I am not alone.