Being seen

 Well.

I went to the office, like usual, last Monday.  I picked up my work from the cube of a co worker who had a terrible cough.  She keeps insisting that she's testing negative, but she's been coughing like that for two weeks.

For some reason, our hanging files cart, where our incoming work is placed, is all the way inside of her cube.  It used to sit out in the open, which I think is how it should still be.

Anyway, I went to my desk, and did my sorting, scanning, and printing.  Filed away my completed work, turned off my computer, and got ready to leave.

As I was leaving, the interim person (they're not even using the words supervisor or manager,  but they're calling her "liaison"), and one of my co workers, were in a small office, both without masks.

I had not seen my co worker for a long time-- two years -- so I headed that way to say hello.  NO, I did not enter the office!  

The "liaison" had a mask hanging from her ear.  The co worker had hers in a box she was carrying.  I later found out, she is getting an office, and was bringing some things from her home office back to the building.

As I approached, my co worker (let's call her E) said "OH!  I forgot my mask!"  She put it on, and we said hello at a distance.  I waved at the "liaison," and left.

Tuesday, "liaison" goes home sick.  

Wednesday, she emails us that she doesn't feel well, and will be working from home.  

Then, that afternoon, she texts me to tell me she's tested positive for covid.

By the end of the week, two more people are out sick.  Probably with covid.  One is an older lady who works in the office, instead of at home, because she is "high maintenance" (does lots of things incorrectly, and has lots of questions, despite having been with us for several years).

SO... E starts texting me Wednesday afternoon.  

SHE is FINE... no symptoms, but she was worried about me.  I told her I was fine...and reminded her that I had stayed distanced, and was wearing my KN95, as always.

Then, she texted me again on Friday, checking in again.  We are both still fine.

We chatted about being in the building, and about how we are currently feeling about it.  

She had gone on Thursday, but felt so uneasy that she left by 11, because a different co worker was there (who goes once a week for a full day), was not wearing a mask, and was walking around talking to people

During our text conversation, I told her that I was worrying about having to go Monday (now tomorrow), to do my usual exchange. But if I don't bring work home, I will not have enough to do. Period.  

Then.

On Friday afternoon, the Safety department called me.  The safety department is a new thing, and I had, quite honestly, forgotten they exist!

Anyway, the safety coordinator, who is also a registered paramedic, and a friend, asked what I do when I am in the building.

He said that E had emailed their department head, concerned about ME having to go to the building right now, as well as some others (one is that older woman, who is now sick).

My heart filled with so much relief, and a feeling of being supported -and SEEN-that I almost started to cry.  I'm almost certain that my ex boss would have wanted me to go ahead and come in.  

But she's gone, and they listened to someone at my level of the company, because she had no reason NOT to advocate for me anymore.

That's a wonderful thing. You have no idea.... 

Anyway...

He stated that they want to fit test me for an N95 mask the next time I am there...but that, well, I really shouldn't come in next week, and should work from home, without an office trip.

I pointed out the fact that I will not have enough to do if I don't come get my work.

Then, he suggested that my work could feasibly be delivered to me.  I assured him that there is no protected health information in what I bring home 90% of the time.  There can't be.

I told him to go see the coughing lady in my department, and that I would email her to give her the heads up that someone was coming to get my paperwork.

I texted the "liaison," and notified her of this development.

At the end of the day on Friday, the safety coordinator himself came to my house with my work for next week.  

Granted, I couldn't exactly give him the completed stuff to take back, but to have my work brought to me, so that I am not worrying about having NOTHING to do after about 10 am every day next week...well... that was a HUGE relief.  Almost MORE of a relief than not having to go to the building.

While he was here, I asked him why there are no hand sanitizer stations in the new building, he said they are coming.  I really think they weren't ready for us to move in, but we were out of time to vacate the old building.

Anyway, he said that they were going to send out another covid safety protocol email to our department, because, apparently, some people, including our "leadership," forgot. 

Everything.

He also said that he will be happy to continue to bring me my work as long as necessary (as mentioned, we are also friends, and he honestly cares about me and Dave).

Hopefully, it won't be necessary for very long, because I have come to rely on my trip to the office to give me some time out of the house, and it helps the feeling of isolation that has been so strong.

SO. That's that, and I can't express in words how this has lifted so much stress away from me.

Yesterday, I made a batch of beef, barley, vegetable soup, and took it out to Mustang for a friend recovering from hip replacement surgery.

Today, Dave is going to Costco first thing, and then later, we hope to go for a woods walk.  I surely could use it, and the weather will be nice enough.

More potential nasty weather later this week, but as long as it's not ice, I don't really mind. We need the moisture!

Have a good week!