Does the title of this blog puzzle you? Why? Don’t you think this bizarre coronavirus pandemic feels somewhat like a masquerade? Everything looks and feels different these days. For one, masked folks are found not only in hospitals, but also on our streets and in our stores. Masks are generally worn either as a disguise, for protection, for fun, or as a cover up. Just think of Batman and Spiderman, of masked Erik in the Phantom of the Opera, of Darth Vader or Zorro. All of them wear masks as part of their identity. We all wear masks, invisible masks, all the time. However, wearing masks in today’s pandemic is different; we don real masks to protect ourselves from this dread coronavirus.
The first awareness I had of this new masquerade, was in early January when Donald Trump blatantly stated, “This virus is a hoax.” Masking the truth, covering up the reality, cost the US dearly, for we all know that this pandemic is far from being a hoax. True enough, when first we heard of its presence in distant Wuhan, we could hardly imagine the horrific impact it would soon have on the rest of the world. It was something we heard about in the news, something happening over there, something that would have no impact on our lives. Wrong.
How drastically everything changed, almost in the blink of an eye! By March the 6th, there it was, right here in Canada. The pandemic was not merely on our doorstep but right in our midst. When the first Canadian died of the virus in Vancouver, it still seemed quite far away from us in South Western Ontario. However, within a week Canadians everywhere were isolating themselves and shutting out the rest of the world. As schools, universities, colleges and public places closed, the first signs of a nationwide masquerade appeared.
Frontline workers, such as doctors and nurses, who usually wear masks while they care for their patients, immediately turned to additional protective gear when those infected by the virus were entrusted to their care. However, suddenly more and more people could be seen wearing masks. Not in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine masks would become such a hot item. Ordinarily only used to dress up for a fun masquerade or as a disguise, it suddenly has become an essential piece of protective gear. Just think. Isn’t it peculiar how quickly it is perfectly acceptable to go to your bank masked and gloved! No one will even look at you twice when you walk in wearing a mask, though people may look at you askance if you don’t wear one. It’s a masquerade after all.
Since we are admonished to stay home, very few people are out and about on our streets. However, if you go walking these days, you may come across people looking a bit like bandits or pirates, Lone Rangers or that masked character from the Phantom of the Opera enjoying solitary walks. Strange sights indeed. The neighbourhood looks like a masquerade parody sans music, dance and laughter. No wonder techie people begin asking, “Can we uninstall 2020 and install it again? This version has a virus.” If only it were that easy to do so. The answer is a resounding no; this is the world we now live in. This is our new normal. Normally, we don’t walk on our streets or in grocery stores wearing masks as if we were at a masquerade or carnival.
Uniquely, we all have our personal way of coping during these abnormal times. There are those who have become despondent or even depressed, while others rise to the occasion. We hear of exceptionally kind gestures right here in London, be it Western or Fanshawe College lending ventilators and beds or be it the Catholic School Board donating five skids of cleaning supplies and gloves to hospitals. Then there is the elderly woman feeding exhausted truck drivers or the man who delivers meals to isolated elders. Also stepping up to the plate, are the Sisters of St. Joseph whose hospitality centre in downtown London is closed to sit-down clients for the duration of the pandemic. Every weekday morning the Sisters have been making 125 bagged lunches which are distributed to their regular clients.
The virus may know no boundaries, but neither do kindness and love. As a gesture of love, the Sisters are contributing to the pandemic masquerade. They not only pray for the needs of all people as covid-19 sweeps across our world, but some ingenious busy bees have also begun to cut, sew, pleat and iron 300 cloth masks. These masks will be used to protect the vulnerable, elderly Sisters and staff.
Recently, I read online, “Life is a masquerade. Everywhere you look are people hiding behind masks.” These words have taken on a totally different meaning for me. They give me pause. When the pandemic is behind us, we will no longer need to wear masks. We will have learned many lessons. Might one of these lessons be, as the sign on our front lawn states, “Perhaps, we are learning to live in the shelter of each other.” Perhaps, there will be no need to hide behind our invisible masks.
- Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps
