The world is feeling like a strange place these days. In a matter of weeks, life outside our home went from an experience of freedom, exploration, and broader connection with society at large to one of anxiety, rigidity, and disappointment.

I have had to tell my daughter that she has to stay away from her friends. They can play “together”, but they can’t play together. This saddens me. How will all of this affect the way she views the world and other people as she continues to grow?

While I fully understand the importance of covering our faces while we’re out and about, I have to admit that I’ve been resistant to it myself. I’m the type of person that smiles at anyone I make eye contact with me (unless I’m feeling shitty), and not seeing faces in public is difficult. I can usually tell if someone is looking my way, but at times it’s hard to read a face that is masked. I passed a woman on the street the other day, and I smiled at her. As soon as she was past me, she turned around and said, “You can’t tell, but I’m smiling at you, too!”

I can’t wait to see faces again.

I strive to be a minimalist, so I’ve been wondering how I can comply with the face covering requirements and not accumulate a bunch of stuff that I will just have to throw out or donate in a few months. Will we even be able to donate face masks? Will it just be more trash in the landfill? What are people going to do with all of these when they’re done with them?

I’ve decided that good solution for myself is something multipurpose that I can wear as a face covering when necessary, or a headband, or a neck warmer in the colder Colorado months. Something I probably won’t just throw away by the end of the year, especially if I design/decorate it myself. I’m still playing with design ideas for just this application, and here is what I’ve got so far.