What a Mask-arade! Or Mask Parade!

Today's Wonder of the World is...the Mask!

Who is that Masked Man?
I believe it's Zorro! Carrying a bag of Halloween candy!
Ben discovered Zorro in France. Don't you love the mustache? I had to buy a new bottle of mascara after that, but it was worth it!

We love masks around our house.
Here's a few on a wall beside Sam's room. Ben made the bottom one in Art a couple years ago. Sarah made the middle one when she was in first grade. (Love the pipe cleaner earrings!) And the top one I bought because I go ape over smiling cats with people teeth.

I take them down from the wall sometimes when Sam has friends for a sleepover. Sam hardly notices them anymore, but some kids find them spooky-ooky, as my nephew Luke would say.

Back in our French life, Ben wore a mask on Wednesday afternoons at his fencing class.

Usually he wore the whole suit, but this was just a Skewer Your Family at Fencing day.
He's about to turn his sister into a kabob.
Not really.

Ben also liked collecting gas masks at the flea market.
It was the only way I could trick him into going with me.


I have an amazing friend Doug Berky who makes unbelievable masks, and tells stories with them.
Find out more about him HERE.


When he puts them on, Doug becomes the mask.

I probably should try to say something profound about how many times we wear masks in life and take them off when we feel safe.
But I don't feel very profound right now. (I just spent a few hours fussing at my sewing machine because that thing is out to get me. Or at least to make me crazy.) So let's not be profound, okey doke? Let's just look at creatures with masks permanently attached.

You won't believe this one!

Flickr photo by donariel.
A spider, with a smiling sun on his back!

And how about this beetle? He looks like he's wearing an African mask.

Flickr photo by gripspix
I think he's beautiful. As long as he's not crawling on me!

Sometimes flowers have mask faces.

Flickr photo by thiagoleon.

And owls.

Flickr photo by ianmichaelthomas

And birds!

Flickr photo by wine buff

And Lucha Libre wrestlers!



And tell me, do you like masks, or do they creep you out?
Do you have a favorite mask from childhood?
My favorite mask is an old yellow Power Ranger one that Ben picked out after doing #2 in the potty for the first time.
Sorry if this is too much information for you, people. And sorry, Ben, if you're reading this, which you never do. I don't usually post potty training stories about you. I only write about what a beast you are! (Beast is a compliment in Ben language.)

I love that mask because it reminds me of little Ben and how he'd wear it while striking his Power Ranger poses, not realizing or caring until four years later that he was wearing the girl Power Ranger costume. Somehow he didn't notice the pink lipstick.

Have a Wonder-Full Monday, everyone!
Love, Becky