#TeamPfizer

Apparently I have turned into one of those people who goes into the office when they don't have to. There's no other explanation for why I went into the office today for a meeting that could have been done virtually. But, like, it's a short drive and there were people there who I had never met in person so ... whatever. I went into the office.

By the way, I super recommend finding yourself some co-workers who believe in science. It's so nice being surrounded by fully vaccinated people and knowing for a fact that they're all fully vaccinated people. That giant pile of privilege is exactly how I found myself LITERALLY standing in front of a water cooler talking to a few of my favorite people long after most everyone else had left for the day.

It was so damn normal. And fantastic.

As we were chatting, the man who does an impressive job of keeping the building clean came into the room to empty some trash cans. As he walked by, he glanced up at us and did a double-take. None of us were wearing masks because FULLY VACCINATED HUZZAH! and apparently that caught him a little off guard. He himself was wearing a mask. As we paused in our conversation to say, "Hi" to him, he returned the pleasantry and then cautiously asked, "Do we not have to wear masks anymore?"

I replied on behalf of the small group, "As long as you are fully vaccinated, you don't have to anymore."

Even with the mask still covering the lower half of his face, I could see a smile stretch across his mouth and extend up into his eyes. He slowly and deliberately removed his mask, carefully folded it, and stuck it in a pocket. The look on his face ... it was so good. It showed was over a year of stress and precaution and worry melting into a tiny pile and goodness do I hope that every single one of us gets to have that moment when we get to turn the page to the next chapter.

As the man began to walk away, he turned back over his shoulder to deliver some parting words. "Isn't science great?" he said.

Indeed. Science really is pretty great.