Masks and masks and masks...

A pinwheel is a combination of many blades one upon the other all connected in the center, the axel, where it spins by.
Each of these blades are a chapter in my life, different masks in which I accumulated one upon the other, acting based on the situation, and the different groups of people I interacted with. I frequently got lost in the combination of so many masks asking whether I was truly myself at home or at school, in the face of the crowd or alone. Each time, I used the various blades, switching from one to the next, trying to be one but not completely one and switching to another and not completely another. It was a whirlwind of colors, pausing momentarily, blowing the various masks from one to another. Eventually the pinwheel spun faster and faster into one blurred color. The color that suits me. I am a combination of all these faces I tried, and finally I rest somewhere closer to where I am supposed to be.
The mask Paz talks about, reminded me of my mask. Paz talks of the one that "we" Mexicans use, using this mask as a shield, always aware, perhaps seeming like "we" are sometimes laughing, sometimes bowing but never ever backing down. It was a mask that seemed to assimilate with society, but in reality just guarded that inner self that doesn't fully agree with one or another.
Patty asked me what the significance of the chopsticks were for the handle of the pinwheel. Honestly, I just chose it because it was the first thing that came to mind, that I had, was dispensable, and that was perfect for the shape.
I guess it says something of my cultural influences, that I had so many at my house and immediately thought of this material among so many materials. Now that I think of it, I could have used a straw.
I do not make the assumption that chopsticks are a marker of Japanese culture (especially since other asian cultures and abroad where I probably don't even know of, tend to use this form of a utensil to eat).  However, I guess sometimes even though we try to hide, some cultural influences show without meaning to.