A mask used to be something only people who worked in the Operating Room wore. Until COVID-19. Slowly, the whole country’s identity began to ebb away beneath the anonymity of a mask. While made of different fabrics, different prints and many constructed of odd materials, such as 2-liter soda bottles or brassieres, these masks have become a fixture of our society. You might even say ubiquitous.Some locales were slow adopters while others immediately donned this cumbersome yet essential garb in the era of highly infectious, airborne virus.
While I have seen many picture galleries of mask oddities, I am here to tell you my unique perspective.
I was not an early adopter. Considering myself to be of exemplary health (it’s OK to roll your eyes), I did not think myself a prime candid for the dreaded COVID-19. But as more bizarre stories began to surface and more people great and small became infected, I began to rethink my misguided invincibility.
Many people are reporting that they think they fell ill with COVID in February, before stay-at-home orders began to fall. I’ve talked to some that suspect that they had it as far back as December!
So now we’re all wearing masks. They are mandatory in many places. I’ve been fortunate enough to procure mine through community resources. When the first shipment arrived, we analyzed the fabric for weight and pattern and the ear loops for comfort and suitability. What we thought was going to be a short-lived “fling” with a mask has turned into a long-term affair where fashion-sense has shown to be a poor predictor of ease-of-use.
I selected 2 masks that I thought would service me well. One was a lovely plaid on one side and solid autumn orange on the other. The second is less flashy but serviceable in its understatedness; it’s solid light blue on one side with a sage green floral pattern on the other. I opted to wear both masks with the printed side out.
I quickly realized that the more I talked while wearing the mask, the more air I tried to suck in, which inevitably caused me to suck in fabric. (frowny face) I also learned that talking caused the fabric to inch down my chin, kind of like an errant sock works its way towards the toe of a shoe, thus, nearly revealing my nose. Oh, the horror!
Thirdly, I learned that if I was to wash these buggers every day/time that I went out, 2 was not nearly enough. Enter mask #3. She is different from her sisters in that she has ties instead of ear loops and she is a single, double-thickness of brick-red fabric with a sassy fern and floral pattern. I think she likes being different.
So I’m a mask wearing fool these days. I find that I am selecting clothes and make-up according to what mask I’m wearing. Lipstick is a think of the past, so eye-catching eye shadow is a must. I try to apply said make-up more than 30 minutes before departure, otherwise, all my make-up rubs off on the interior of the mask!
One of the nice things about the mask: the ear loops hold my unwieldy hair out of my eyes. I’ve seen where some folks have fashioned a headband to which the mask attaches with buttons! It’s amazing how innovative people are. They’ve taken 2 inconveniences, wearing a mask and not being able to get a haircut, and relieved these with a single innovation. Brill.
So we are a mask-wearing society. Not the gun-slinging, cowboy boot-wearing bunch of the Wild West, but a socially conscious, caring & careful society trying to make our way.