The following article was submitted to PrinceGeorgeMatters from Amanda Holmes, writer for Humour Me, Girl from PG.
I’m writing this for New Year's Day and I’m sure like myself, most of you are excited and relieved to kick 2020 out on its ass.
What a year.
What a life-altering, mind-shattering, crazy ride that was, eh?
I’ve had so many moments of despair, disbelief and disappointment.
Yet, I’ve also had so many moments of gratitude, contentment and pride in how I’ve managed to somehow cope throughout the mayhem.
We’ve all had to adapt and change so many of our routines and with literally new rules to how we live coming in daily this has not been an easy task.
I think the biggest adaptation that has intrigued me the most are the masks, what are now considered to be the most essential accessory on the planet.
We went from walking around all naked faced, to suddenly showcasing our personalities with a strip of cloth worn around our breathing holes.
Masks are now society’s way of expressing themselves and some people are taking that to a whole new level.
Like my friend Karen. She’s got about 40 cloth masks that she’s ordered and bought from all over the place. They are all neatly bundled in her purse in a bag, ready to be whipped out at a moment's notice. She’s got one in every colour, pattern and style you can imagine.
You ever find yourself short a mask? Don’t worry, Karen’s got you covered... literally. (Well not really, because I doubt anyone would borrow someone’s mask during a pandemic. But that’s not the point of my story.)
Then there’s my friend Jen. Her mask is literally a giant ape mouth grinning from ear to ear, showing off a mouthful of massive teeth.
It’s funny to see but distracting all at the same time.
Jenni came into work one morning and her mask was crooked. She was telling me something but I couldn’t pay any attention because it looked like she’d had a stroke. The ape's mouth was all crooked and drooping and to be honest it was horrifying yet hilarious all at once. I couldn’t finish the conversation until she straightened the darn thing!
A COVID-19 cloth mask with a gorilla's mouth on it, displaying it's shiny teeth and braces. By Amanda HolmesI also had the pleasure of working with a lovely woman whose masks perfectly complimented her outfits. Who doesn’t have a coral and lime green mask to match their dress jacket?
I can barely get my socks to match some days let alone my mask to my pantsuit.
But kudos to you Catherine, and your matching mask wardrobe. I miss you and I hope you’re enjoying retirement.
Then there’s me. I’ve purchased one black cloth mask and I’ve had a few gifted to me. But my fave orifice covering continues to be the black surgical masks sold pretty much anywhere nowadays.
I’m probably the most boring mask-wearing woman you’ll ever see. But that’s okay because I wear a lot of black, so, like Catherine, I’m matching my mask to my wardrobe as well.
Besides I’ve found other great uses for masks aside from preventing the spread of viruses.
- They’re perfect for right after lunch meetings if you didn’t have time to check your teeth after your everything bagel.
- Got a chin pimple?? Save your coverup girl, and just slap a mask on! Voila! What pimple?
- Hubby has a farting problem? Once again masks to the rescue. My husband has even commented how happy he is now that he can pass gas freely in public and no one can smell him... back off ladies, he’s all mine!
- Cold weather freezing your nostrils together and creating icicles on your nose hairs? Those days are done thanks to the super handy dandy mask that you donned to head into the grocery store.
So see? It’s not all doom and gloom.
There are positives to the negatives and we’re learning to look on the bright side and make the best of what is sometimes a crappy situation.
So as we head into 2021, remember that laughter truly is the best medicine, and try to find a chuckle somewhere throughout your day.
