Lorianne Tenove | Article . Photos by Phil Bellchamber

My grandmother always wore lipstick . My mother always wears lipstick and since I was fifteen , I have always worn lipstick , except for three days in my life — during the births of my children ! Now the question may be asked , why do I wear lipstick when , for the most part , I am wearing a mask in public ? I think lipstick and makeup companies are in big trouble .

This is the new norm , and it will be for a long time . We lived in Hong Kong through SARS , and masks became the practice there for years to come . It will be the same for COVID-19 because masks are a new routine in our lives that I believe most people have embraced and will continue to embrace well into the future , even with a vaccine around the corner .

Designers such as my daughter have got on the bandwagon and have created cool and imaginative designs that accompany everyday wear . She has been making hundreds of maskdanas , which are a cross between a mask and a bandana . Even the wife of one of the pulmonia drivers , who takes us around occasionally in Mazatlán , embroidered a mask for me . This was a gift of love that I so appreciated .

Who knew that we would be adding another fashion accessory to our wardrobes ? One can choose from a plethora of colours , materials , and themes . One day at my school , I had to meet with a family to have a fierce conversation about their daughter ’ s lack of attendance .

The father was wearing a funny mask and I had a hard time communicating my concerns seriously when looking at his face . Maybe he was strategic with his choice of mask !

The administrative staff have been back in the school since September , and it is wonderful to get back into a routine in a place other than my bedroom . I have been dividing my days between administrative work and walking around the school to get the real lay of the land .

Never before in my career have I had four months to go through classrooms and resources , and have the opportunity to create whimsical spaces for children . While missing colleagues and students around me , I ’ ve been savouring this time with the whole school to myself .

Teachers are notorious for saying that schools lack supplies and resources . This school has paper and art supplies to last until the year 3000 — located in three storage rooms . I am bringing it together in one location for all to access . Teachers also like to collect stuff , and in each classroom , there is stuff ; some good , some not so good , and if I had my druthers …

It ’ s interesting that for nine or more months , teachers have not used paper , the photocopier , or art supplies ; yet the students have provided incredible online work

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