I'm sorry if this is off topic but I am trying to find help where I can get it. We don't mask and we cannot find an eye doctor that will take us. We have actually called down to Jacksonville Florida to see if they would take us and they would. It would be an 11 hour drive, non-stop, a stay at a hotel, appointment the next day, stay at the hotel and an 11 hour drive back plus the stops for eating and restroom, on a single income from a peon who could lose his job at any time because he won't get the inoculation.
Does anyone know where in NW Virginia or anywhere closer to that than Florida their might be an eye doctor who will see us if we refuse to suffocate ourselves.
I'm even open to getting a lawyer to help us if we can find one. Any advise, regarding eye doctors or lawyers would be very much appreciated.
This is being scrupulous on steroids, in my opinion. If I asked you, "Can you afford to go on vacation right now?" What would you answer, yes or no? If you answered "yes," then why are you so worried about losing your job? Clearly money is not that much of a problem for you.
If your answer is, "no," then why is it that way? You are probably not rolling in dough. Even on a common-sense level, *does it make sense to drive all that way when you can find the same help right in your area?* It's not like you are going to visit a dying relative that you are never going to see again. If it were a dying relative, I'd say, have a safe trip.
You are wanting basic eye care for your family. It's also not like you are needing specialized brain surgery that can only be found in one part of the US in Jacksonville, Florida. In which case, of course it would make sense to go through all that hassle to get there!
The eye doctor is working in what is called "intimate" or personal space (usually within about 18" is a typical measurement). It is also known as "within kissing distance." Do you have children? You need to teach them about personal space and who is and who is not allowed within it, and why and when.
He or she is close enough to examine your eyes and smell what you had for lunch, and vice versa--you can also smell the breath. As a basic sign of respect, if for no other reason, BE HAPPY that he or she is wearing a mask, and wants you to wear one!
I worked for decades with people that had less-than-ideal personal hygiene--people that didn't brush their teeth twice a day, don't use dental floss, don't visit the dentist twice a year, smell bad, and so on, etc. There were many times I would have LOVED to throw them a mask so I didn't have to smell their alcohol breath, drug breath, bad breath, look at their gnarly teeth, and so on.
You don't need a lawyer. For what? If you don't trust someone to look after your eyes, then don't bother going to the eye doctor. An optometrist is different than an ophthalmologist, btw. The latter is an MD, the former is not. If you just need glasses, you just need an optometrist. If you need cataract surgery, then go for the specialist.
What if you need follow-up care? Are you going to go through all the 11 hour drive stuff each time *just to see that same person?* No? If not, why not?
I have to drive almost 4 hours return to visit my guy--I have had him for years, and it's worth continuing on with him and the hassle to get there for the every-2-years I see him. The closest person would be 60 minutes round-trip.
Find someone local, put on a mask for the short time you will be there, and offer it up if it really bothers you. And if you are wanting to go the extra-mile? Take all that money you were (ridiculously) prepared to spend on your day-trip to Florida, and have Masses said for something constructive--your family, the Holy Souls, etc.
And if you balk at that idea (of spending all that money on Masses)? Then I don't think you need to see an eye doctor, but another kind of doctor for your mind. That's how neurotic you come across to me. You are way-over-thinking things, but as you wish.
There is no sin in wearing a mask, and there is no sin in driving all that way to Florida if you want to. (And if it were me, I'd at least make it worthwhile and stay a few days and make it a mini-vacation, but that's beside the point). But for someone on the verge of losing his job? I would say that you are foolish for wasting that money that would be better spent saving it, or using it to feed and house your family. Common sense is missing.
Even if you had said, "We haven't had Mass in 6 months, so we are going to drive all that way to Florida, etc." I would say, "Wow, that's awesome! What a sacrifice!" But it's not for Mass. Do you currently drive all that way right now to attend Mass? If you say "But that's too far too drive!" Or, "We don't have to. We only have to drive 30 minutes, or whatever figure." Well, then, I rest my case. Like I said, you are being scrupulous on steroids.