For the past couple of months we have all been witnessing how life has changed. Not permanently, we trust, but the reality is we are now living with that change. We’re adjusting our habits. Groceries, pharmacy, gas station, take-out food, essential needs all seem to be the main focus of our lives. It’s not just the question of which necessities we need, but it’s also the journey to get those necessities. Instead of stopping at Arena Pharmacy or Gualala Super or the local Chevron or the Seafood Shack as a part of our casual ‘drive (or walk) into town’, we are now planning our trips. Strategic thinking goes into these excursions. We’re going once a week or maybe twice but few are making separate journeys on separate days.

Almost all of us are wearing a mask when we leave home. While some people have opted for a genuine surgical mask, most of us have improvised. I find that the many varied home-made masks are a delight to see. The individual creativity is an art unto itself. Homemade masks are a rainbow of colors, from bright to drab and everything in between.

Shapes vary from a carefully crafted homemade replica of a surgical mask to the outlaw Jesse James-variety covering everything but the eyes. (Note: The Lone Ranger’s mask and Batman’s cowl will not work. However, Darth Vader’s mask—although extreme—will certainly do the trick.) Dolly and I have fashioned ours out of an old scarf. She chose the colorful pattern for the world to see while I opted to use the reverse—a solid green. Funny, though. When she wears her mask it’s neat, perfectly folded. Mine, on the other hand, looks like I just crumpled it up. It’s more of a wadded mess that seems to be either attempting to escape from my face or devour me. Think of a crazed giant green gopher. Nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised when my friend Lini recognized me behind my green mess at Gualala Super last week. Behind the Gualala Hotel, Allan Hogle (using skills perhaps honed as a pizza maker) was carefully handing off Astrid’s delicious baked goods so that we could maintain—at least—our needed six degrees of separation.

Walking seems to be more popular right now, or perhaps I’m getting out more and finally noticing people walking. As we ambled along Ocean Ridge Drive we saw Sharon and Craig, Harrison and others enjoying a sunny day. None of us were wearing masks as we were on opposite sides of the road which gave us 25 feet of space to adequately maintain our distance.

What’s missing in most of our lives right now are the arts. Yes, I know we have TV and radio but the uplifting and social aspect of interacting with our fellow humans—friends, neighbors, casual acquaintances and strangers alike—is a source of pleasure that I long to resume. I’m becoming anxious for the moment when we can once again enjoy a concert, film, theater performance, poetry night, art opening, live music concert and more. Until then I’m happy that we're living in Coastal Mendocino, knowing those social events will return.

Top: Lone Ranger (hero)

Upper Left: Cowboy (bank robber)

Middle right: Darth Vader (villain)

Lower left: Prince charming