Starting my day during Covid-19 has its challenges.
Oh, I still rise each morning with a singular goal. Get dressed.
This is a short way of saying, “Pajamas may be comfy, but you MUST maintain an element of dignity.”
Even if no one but the UPS man comes to the door, one must be ready.
And so, I gather up an outfit that mostly matches and then head to the bathroom mirror to wash up and “put on my face” as people used to say in earlier years about pancake makeup and polaroid cameras.
I do smooth on a light foundation to fill in roadmap crinkly areas and then add a bit of blush (to highlight the cheekbones that used to be there) and of course some mascara to bring out the few sparse lashes still clinging to life. Then there is the final finishing touch – lipstick!
But Oooops! I keep forgetting. The actual finishing touch nowadays is the mask!
I keep forgetting the mask that covers up:
cheekbones with an added blush of sun,
and lips of coral gloss and glow.
And now each morning I ask myself, “Why?”
- Why do I continue to make up a face that will be 95% covered by a mask?
- Who will know me that way anyway? I have barely left home for 4 months now.
- Can friends really recognize each other for grocery store chats?
I could just leave my mask on at all times and no one would ever know there are unlipsticked lips underneath.
- And who would know if the old unmadeup hag under there is smiling or grimacing or sticking out her tongue?
The only sign of emotion might be in the eyes.
I could make up eyes and brows to look surprised all the time or even happy.
But underneath the mask I might be making all sorts of negative grimaces.
Well, “You get my drift,” as they used to say in one of my earlier eras.
Pandemic discoveries I have learned, are about life and living.
And my sage words of wisdom for you today is what I have learned about masking during Covid-19.
In the end it is not the mask that counts but the person underneath.
The people under the masks are still the same, but I long to smile at others where they can see it!
One thing has changed for me during this virus time. I put on earrings every day, but I take them off before going out. I’m afraid of losing one when fumbling with the mask. Others can don a mask with two flicks of a wrist, but I’m ten times slower than that.
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I’ve barely used make-up since Covid.
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Oh how funny! Grinning ear to ear behind my mask, if you can tell by the crinkly eyes. 😁 I haven’t worn makeup since 20s or 30s so it doesn’t matter either way.
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Awe I am so sorry you are trapped under the mask but only if you go shopping right? Do your face it is the routines that will get us through. I folded the bra and put it away in March and only when I must go out to gather with friends 8 feet apart do I bother with it lol come winter I won’t as we will all remain bundled up 🙂 Do you both go for rides? Up here numbers are low and you can go anywhere with a mask and having hand sanitizer in the car saves me until I get to the sink back home. Love you and stay safe. Give your girl a hug for me until I can travel.
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So true Dor! I have worn makeup exactly 2 times since we started sheltering for covid. Candidly I’m surprised that I play golf and go out to dinner now and then (outdoor dining of course) with friends and still go “au natural”. In fact I may never wear makeup again!!! As I understand it, the makeup companies are really suffering these days. Hopefully they’re making masks instead 🙂
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I find that with wearing a mask that I only have to shave every other day. It saves a lot of time in the morning.
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As I told someone recently, I’m saving money on lipstick and breath mints! Love your last sentence.
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I’ve read that women in Japan (or someplace) wear masks (pre-covid) just so they don’t have to put on make-up!
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Well, my friend, I have completely abandoned putting my “face on” not just everyday but even if I’m going out because as you said so adeptly, what’s the point if my make-up face is covered by a mask? Kidding aside, it’s so difficult to determine what anyone’s expression is with all of these face coverings, BUT I did come across a person just yesterday, fully masked, who smiled with her eyes! She made my day!! 🙂
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Hahaha! I will have to remember to keep smiling with my eyes.
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Hmmmm. There may be some hidden wisdom there.
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You are smarter than I am Dianna. I just figured out that nobody sees my lispstick and in fact, just ordered a new supply. 🙂
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Now I never thought of the male perspective. But, in fact a neighbor shaved his beard and the mask may have been why.
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Since you are naturally beautiful, you an get away with sans makeup. I’m afraid I might scare people away. A good way to social distance though.
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We kind of gave up on rides when Bill found out I could drive o.k. even with BigFoot. So, now I will have to devise my own adventures. So disappointed you are not travelling yet, but even so, it would not be a good time to visit us “elderly” folks. Son and grands all wanted to come this month but it’s not a good time yet. I will be soo happy to see you when you finally do get here. Hugs back from me and Elsa.
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You are a great example of how us wilderness maidens shoud live!
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Boo trips with all of you is more fun ❤
Yes I was healthy to go on an adventure but seems the country isn't. I wash my hands keep my hair up in a pony tail or a clip so I am not constantly touching my face and I carry a bottle of sanitizer and use after coming out of a store or pumping gas takes two seconds to keep safe.
I will see what Sept. and Oct. hold for this virus and how schools do. you are safer in NH we are one of the states with the lowest numbers but we are in the country like you are.
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Wow! You are really taking good precautions. We are pretty rural but we have 3 universities here (Washington and Lee, Virginia Military Institute, and Southern VA University) and afraid the students partying will set off a real outbreak. Will have to hope for the best.
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Wow true enough it is the young who do not care at this point gathering in large crowds never wearing masks even when it is the law they may survive just fine but their parents and grandparents won’t we go out with masks and spray and cleaner and gloves when we need them but we wear winter ones we can hang outside for a week.
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