Missing Smiles

As this COVID-19 pandemic continues, one thing I miss most is smiling at people and getting a smile in return. So much can be communicated with a smile. Some smiles say I care about you while others confirm a shared understanding. Smiles spread joy and are infectious. They make you feel good. (And who doesn’t need more of that?)

Whatever a smile brings to your life, right now it’s rare to see one. Face masks must cover from nose to chin. With the wide variety available, I actually focus on the mask rather than the person. The word “whatever” was plastered on one face mask I saw today. The mask of one woman I was conversing with kept slipping below her nose which I found terribly distracting. Or in some cases I find myself thinking, “That mask is disgustingly filthy.”

I’ve been trying to focus on eyes, rather than masks, with limited success. A genuine smile lights up the eyes I’ve discovered. Try as I might, I’m on shaky ground when trying to read eyes. I need the whole package—mouth, eyes and even nose to fully read a person’s emotions.

I’ve seen advertisements for custom face masks that take an image of you and stamp it on the fabric. But for nearly $30 a mask, I hesitate to invest. As soon as I did I’m sure the mask regulations would be lifted. 

Then again, maybe I should order one to hasten this pandemic along. I’d make sure that stamped on image would be one of the biggest, cheesiest grins I could muster. Walking through the grocery store it would make people laugh. Laughter brings smiles. And I would for sure recognize those in my fellow shoppers eyes.