Two years into the pandemic and two years of mask wearing and yet, I still maintain my decades old habit of putting on lipstick or at least some gloss before leaving the house. Silly, right? I think some women are lipstick women and some women are mascara women and it is just hard to change such a firm habit or belief about what helps you put your best foot or face forward. Years ago a good friend told me she never leaves the house without putting on mascara, even if it is just to go to the gym or grocery store. For me, eye makeup is for a special occasion — when I get all dressed up, perhaps for a wedding or party … (which is certainly not happening often these days). But I always put something with a bit of moisturizer and s little bit of shine on my lips. Otherwise, my lips feel so chapped and I feel that I look so pale. So even though no one can see my mouth or smile, I continue to wear lipgloss. It is a bit of normality during otherwise strange and difficult times. However, I think my friend with her loyalty to mascara comes out ahead during these pandemic days… we’ve been told to “smile with our eyes.” On the other hand, I think, I hope, that with the decline of the omicron variant, and warmer spring weather in the next few months, perhaps we will be able to shed our masks. When that happens, I will splurge and buy new lip sticks!
February 6, 2022
I took this photo in Berkeley, California in late April of 2020. There was so much thoughtfulness and loving humor that went into the notice and the message it conveyed. This is one of many signs that people tacked up on telephone poles and bulletin boards during the pandemic, offering help to others who might be at a higher risk of infection. My spirits have been lifted every time I’ve seen these signs of people willing to take some risk to help their neighbors.
June 17, 2021