Dear Reader:

Yesterday morning when I was scrolling through my emails I smiled at the Natural Life Chirp saying for the day…and then under the visual quip was an advertisement (as seen above) for unique face masks being sold with portions of the sales going  to buy more masks for first responders in our country in the on-going fight against COVID19.

I couldn’t help but think how far our country has come in its attitude towards wearing face masks as a prevention method against the pandemic virus.

I must admit that initially the idea sorta scared me too…every time I would watch thousands of Asians going about their daily lives with masks on in the news…it reminded me of something out of George Orville’s dystopian book of political prophesy…1984. (written the year I was born)

It seemed so alien and strange..more  science fiction than real.

Most western countries and cultures felt similarly at first…especially France who prides itself on its own individuality, especially in unique styles and tastes of apparel.

But once their mind-set changed… it came in the form of a face mask cat walk in Paris….as far back as February of 2020.

One show during Paris Fashion Week proved to be unintentionally timely as models wore a range of outfits complete with matching face masks. The outfits were shown  by French designer Marine Serre. Once again the French showed one can wear masks and still have individual style.

What started changing western culture to this acceptance? It was the  ‘Woolly Mammoth’ syndrome showing up again. (Working together, as a team, to bring down a huge animal for food and survival)

Once we listened to the underlying medical reasons and logic for wearing face masks to slow down and eventually help eradicate the virus…it no longer was a stand-off between what we wanted to do or not do…our personal individual choices needed to take a back seat.

We had to change our mind-set to collective thinking…not “me, me, me” thinking. Personal feelings aside…what was best for the good of the people? It would be one thing if choosing not to wear a mask affected only the person making that choice…but this was not the medical dilemma we were in…this decision affected everyone around us.

In order to eradicate this virus from our normal daily lives…we all needed to sacrifice for the benefit of the whole. Once people began to realize that by wearing a mask (and following social distancing, washing hands and other prescribed practices) we were acting in the best interests of everyone…that only by practicing this preventive method together... could we turn the tide on the pandemic…then slowly acceptance increased.

I am not wearing my mask for me…I am wearing it for you. This is a very important new mind-set during this pandemic.

So until tomorrow…

As I order my grandchildren super hero masks, princesses masks, Disney characters masks before school begins…I do so to help them accept this new challenge in the world in which they live.

My prayer is that the lesson learned from this new order is that our strength lies in helping each other go through life…putting others before ourselves. It is a hard way to learn this concept, but a lesson well learned and remembered.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Thank goodness for transitional lantana…it keeps floral beauty alive while we wait on the fall mums to start showing up. Love it!

Susan stopped by with the yummiest pumpkin squares Friday …*I will stuff some in my mouth on my way to Mt. P to keep the children while John takes Mandy out to dinner for her birthday. Thank you Susan…I love pumpkin goodies !!! P.S. I will give Mandy her pumpkin square bag from you for her birthday! She will be excited!