Ruth Purcell

I first noticed people wearing masks during a business trip to Florida in February. How odd I remember thinking. Do people really get colds and flu in the Sunshine State?

Soon I learned that the Florida folks were worried about something much more serious — a new virus that was making its way across the country. Early information on prevention and treatment was uncertain, but some experts were saying that mask wearing might be helpful.

Soon Pinterest and Facebook were featuring patterns to make homemade masks to spare the medical-grade varieties for health-care workers.

Having enjoyed sewing when my children were young I had fabric remnants — including material from a dress I made when I was pregnant with my daughter. She is now 35!

I began making masks. Almost immediately elastic became scarce, but I have a very resourceful friend who raided her late grandmother's sewing basket and found elastic. We figured the elastic was older than we are because the sales sticker was from G.C. Murphy! But like us, it still worked fine.

It was actually rather fun sewing and giving away masks in March, partly because we had no idea how long we would be wearing them.

Do I like wearing a mask and feel I am 100% immune to the virus with one on.

No to both.

But I do believe that they offer a degree of protection both for myself and those with whom I interact.

I think of the front-line health- care workers who are masked for hours on end as they care for the sickest of us.

Is it really too much for us to wear masks? I don't think so. Besides there are lots of other items we wear that are much more uncomfortable. What about pantyhose, spike heels, pencil skirts, Spanx and neckties for men?

So I wear a mask, hope it isn't much longer, and am forever grateful for the people who have worked over the past long months to care for us and keep us safe — all of whom are wearing masks.

Ruth Purcell is executive director of BC3 Education Foundation.