Mask

      The opening prompt for NaBloPoMo this month is asking what my first interpretation of the word mask is: covering up, a persona, or a performance.

     Right off the top of my head the first thing I thought about was Jim Carrey’s hilarious performance and the persona he portrayed as the shy and retiring bank clerk, Stanley Ipkiss in the motion picture “Mask“.  When he puts on that amazing mask he becomes the person he always wanted to be.  Not only did he get the girl with the mask, but he was ultra cool and hilarious doing it. The mask worked differently for different people.  Where Jim Carrey’s character had a heart of pure good and reflected it when he wore the mask, the crime boss Dorian Tyrel’s evil was magnified when he wore it.

      I think we all wear masks.  We act differently around different people.  I tend to be myself in about every situation since I have gotten older.  That wasn’t always the case.  Growing up, I never really showed my true personality to anyone.  It emerged much later.  I am glad it finally did.  I feel good in my own skin and have a lot more fun being my crazy, giggly self than pious as if I have a broom shoved up my a$$ sideways.  I am no longer afraid to be me, and while in some situations I will act my age, most times I am just one big fun loving kid with a smile on my face, a giggle on my lips, and a rocking song in my heart until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

Behind the Mask- BFF 138

     Who hasn’t pretended to be someone else while growing up? The most fun thing about Halloween is the ability to transform for one night into someone else with the aid of a costume and a mask. Even more fun is having everyone guess who it is behind the mask. That is why Halloween holds so much appeal to so many people. It is certainly why I always loved it. The magic of movies and the theatre draw many for the same reason. It makes it ok to be someone else, if only for a while.

     The best actors and actresses can portray someone else so well that they become that character. They never quite lose the aura of that character in people’s minds.  Scarlett O’ Hara will forever be Vivienne Leigh. Judy Garland will forever be the image of Dorothy of the “Wizard of Oz”.  Even when I read the books, I see the actors who portray the characters in my minds eye acting out the scenes. We may not remember what their real names are years from now but chances are we will still recognize the actresses as they were when they portrayed the iconic roles that made them famous.

     What about in real life? Do ordinary folks wear masks?  That would be a hearty hell yes! We all wear masks. Are they as different as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde??  Most people tend to be more subtle.  We wear a different mask at work, and discard it when we get home. A different mask comes out for partying at a nightclub compared to the one worn at a family wedding. If faced with a police officer or the preacher of your church, you will exhibit different behaviors than how you might act with your best friends. You get the drift. Depending on who we are around or where we are, we act differently. Most folks would never dream of throwing a fit at church but would have no qualms about raising holy hell in the comfort of their own house. People’s behaviors and appearances don’t change quite as drastically as Jim Carrey’s character in the hit movie “The Mask”, but wouldn’t it be smoking’ if it did??

     We wear the masks we need as society dictates in our surroundings and relationships. Often we hide behind masks afraid to let people in for fear of being hurt once again. Even social networking sites online can serve as a mask to hide behind. Only for those who are truly trusted do the masks finally come off revealing the true person within. Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.