Today is doomsday. Nah, just kidding. But hyperbole can help make light of seemingly dire circumstances… I have an appointment, one I can’t avoid, and I know I’m going to have a fragrance exposure of mass proportions. I have my mask; I’ve organised to be the first one seen; and I can wait in a room set aside for people with disabilities. The nature of this appointment is private so I won’t bore you with the salacious details (deliberately oxymoronic statement, right there!); however, I will tell you it’s at a place where people dress to impress (or not) and spray who knows what on thinking that is the nature of lasting impression. The last time I went there, it took two weeks to recover. Perhaps this time, I’ll be lucky.
The good thing about having an appointment where I’ll be exposed to fragrances, solvents and petrochemicals fuming from the general population’s choice of personal care products, is that I can schedule to go to other places as well. Call that crazy, maybe. But as I see it, I rarely go anywhere anymore where I know I may get sick; such is the pattern developed by people told by their doctors to practice avoidance behaviour around chemicals known to impact on their health; so I often take the opportunity to double or triple up. This way, I already have fragrance all over me. I’m sick, already. I’m wearing a mask. And I’ll need to wash my hair, air my clothes (before washing them, too), and start the recovery process, dealing with come what may. So why not hit the shops? Nick into the Optometrist to get my glasses straightened.
Today, I feel great. I’m not suffering any symptoms. I’m wearing a killer pair of strappy clogs, a grey high-waisted business skirt, a loose houndstooth shirt. My hair is in a bun (thanks to Lilla Rose) and I’ve penciled my eyebrows into a fashionable arch. Do I look sick?
I think not. Will I end up wrecked today? Chances are, yes. If I get out of the first appointment unscathed, my plan is to go for a bush walk at Anglesea Heath. If I’m sick, well then, I’ll go to Target (just quickly) and pick up some panty hose (cause that’s what’s missing in this carefully-thought-out outfit of professionalism!), and then Bunnings to treat myself to a new Bonsai for my collection.
Do you ever double up on getting exposed to chemicals because 1), it makes life more convenient, and/or 2) you’re going to get sick anyway so you may as well get shit done while this is happening!?
PS: Personally, I love my outfit, and yes, it makes me feel—in a cliched type of way—a million dollars; but once I put my mask on and wool scarf over the top of that, it only kind of ruins it. Oh well, ho hum, it’s off I go today…
More
The Labyrinth: How to Have a Low Chemical Car
Hi Michellina, You are sharing great information here. When you say that it’s a choice where you go for the appointment that is true. Many people feel compelled to go places but really it IS a choice. I love your outfit in the photo – very sophisticated!
Hi Christy, thanks, sophisticated is a lovely compliment 🙂 I hope my information is of help to others. I think having this illness makes people really think about that choice.
You look like you are ready to conquer the world – too bad it clobbers you when you are out. I definitely double up. I have an errand day and don’t plan much else. I know I will be exhausted from the exposures by the time I get home. If I come home and feel okay – that is great. If I don’t then I have given myself permission to stop and take a nap. After shedding my body of the chemicals, sleep is my best recovery remedy.
By the time I finished I felt clobbering people with my shoes. So worn out! It took me a few years to work out how important it is to wash my hair ASAP. If don’t, I wake up with the worse headache and take even longer to recover. Your errend day sounds like the perfect plan!
YOU LOOK GREAT & IT IS SO NICE TO HAVE YA BACK BLOGGING– I MISSED YA— YES WHEN I LEAVE MY MCS SAFE HOME– I TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN I AM OUT– TODAY– I ONLY MADE IT TO ONE PLACE ON MY LIST— & MY BODY SAID– LIKE HELL YOU ARE DOING MORE— SO I WAITED IN THE CAR WHILE GARY DID THE REST OF THE THINGS ON OUR LIST!!! PRAISE GOD FOR GARY!!!! 🙂
I absolutely double and triple and quadruple up! Fun to think other MCSers have followed the same logic and come up with the same coping technique (and if I’m calling that fun, you know I am a little desperate). I make sure that I go big on a Friday so that my husband can help with the parenting over the weekend when I will be incapacitated.
I also agree those are fabulous shoes -everybody will be looking at them not your mask!
Yes, I’ve tried to quadruple before. Oh, Thanks for the shoe compliment. I’ve recoverd now; I feel like I don’t want go anywhere for at least a month. Feels like it’s just not worth it somehow… You are so lucky with that husband of yours.
YES, i do exactly that… to get shit done, your words are so perfect. Isn’t it ridiculous how everyone is bathed in some sort of petrochemical? I cannot stand it and become a roaring bitch when I’m really bombarded. Frankly it triggers my “disorders” and makes me quite upset. Thus I do reward myself in a weird way, going to target just like you… might as well, i can always find something there i just must have and i’m already about to die so why not. I do hope you aren’t forced to bed tho.
You look quite dishy this way. I love your clogs. I’m a clog girl too… I was going to buy some like those but in red this last summer but decided I didn’t want a broken ankle. 🙂
Be well, dearheart!
Here’s to getting shit done! Yes, it’s so ridic for people to smoother themselves in le’bathe-my-ass-in-toxic chemicals then wear them out into public breathing spaces. Luckily, people are becoming more and more aware–I hope and pray so anyway. I did have to go to bed but recovered well within a few days; so that was good. I like to think I don’t have to go anywhere for a while now.
I think you can get low clogs? They would suit you darling 🙂
You be well, too, sweetie! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
You are looking great in this picture/photo, I hope all goes better than expected, but I know exactly what all this entails. We venture out, we become poisoned by other peoples chemical fragrance. The world is crazy when it comes to these toxic harmful products. Loving your blogs/writing. <3 ~ Lindy