~~~ thinking it was cool compared to the ones I wear every day, elsewhere.

Upon being called into preparation (ophthalmology), the technician politely and professionally said; "I'm going to give you the proper mask to wear while you are here for your procedure."

My response was"Thank you. This isn't the correct mask to be wearing?"

Her response was; "No. Though that mask protects you, it doesn't protect us."

She explained what this is (I have hundreds of them) and thanked her.

That one statement from her knocked the wind out of me. Me, who thought what I was doing was correct.