My photos prior to the above were all jovial and social: New Year’s, Super Bowl LIV, SOBEWFF, endless dinners, galas, cover parties. Some days I was scheduling half a dozen IRL meetings and attending just as many events. When Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx said that covering up would keep everyone safe from contracting COVID-19, I went through my hurricane surival kit and found an N95 mask, industrial face goggles and heavy duty gloves. For most of March and April (Remember 15 days to flatten the curve?), this was my look every time I venture out for groceries and essentials. This photo was taken the day Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was the second person in Miami to test positive. It made national headlines and my wife had been at arm’s length to him at a City Commission meeting earlier that day. We were taking no chances and self-quarantined out of an abundance of caution. It felt like we were living in a zombie apocalypse. Luckily, many people have stepped up their mask game since they became required wear. My wife and I even appeared on a segment in Deco Drive sporting our new art masks from The Museum of Graffiti, and on countless social pages and blogs wearing the smile-inducing styles from Isa Zapata’s Soulmates Collection. Leading with a smile will always save the day, even if you can’t quite see it when you’re covered up.
