I’m not actively trying to find a theme every time I make a post like this. Last time I shared some of the Hello Kitty things I keep, because there is a lot of it. This one just kind of happened. These are things I remember vividly from the pandemic. We all had a lot more time at home, and apparently I chose to shop and play around. Here are a few of those things.

Dumpster Fire Soft Vinyl Figure

I didn’t know live sales were a thing until the pandemic. I got this on Popshop Live from Japan LA. I’ve bought from them before, but there was something about the novelty of shopping through video.

It also felt fitting to buy a dumpster fire in 2020.

Giant Rilakkuma Bear

I had this Rilakkuma bear for a while. I got him from Jellybeet. I was even thinking of giving him to one of my friend’s kids because he just sat at my dinner table and I thought maybe he could bring more happiness somewhere else.

Then Zoom meetings happened. It was his time to shine.

I also started making YouTube videos around this time, and his official job now is to make sure I set my camera frame up right by just sitting there and being cute.

Sequin Animal Print Mask

I definitely saw that time as an opportunity to buy cute masks. We all had our preferences, and I didn’t think this one would be comfortable, but it was. It actually fit my face really well.

Even though most of us have probably gotten rid of our masks, I kept this one. I still use it when I’m sick.

RoboKitty Glitter Painting

I went to Hello Kitty Con in LA in 2014 and got to see a lot of amazing Hello Kitty art. There was one piece made out of string that really made an impression on me. It just seemed funny. It’s a famous cat made of string. I liked it enough to buy an enamel pin so I could always have a version of it.

During the pandemic, I decided to make my own out of glitter. It turned out so cute that I’m thinking about making a bigger one once I move.

Why I Still Keep These

Even though a lot of us experienced loss during that time, we also had space to sit with things. I definitely had moments where I felt depressed, but keeping small, cute things around me helped more than I expected.

When I look at these now, I don’t think about how isolating that time was. I think about the fact that I chose to keep them, and that they still have a place in my life now.

I’m looking forward to the next things I end up keeping.