Thoughts
Along the Path . . .
With signs of spring everywhere, I am eagerly
moving into the new season. For example, I put my ice skates away and brought out
my gardening gloves. Winter jackets and boots are in a storage bin in the
basement, with light sweaters and sandals taking their place in the upstairs
closet.
I love this time of year when I do my “wardrobe
switch,” even as I realize that I need mid-weight clothes for layering for
awhile, I am happy to put aside winter items and bring out summer clothes,
shoes, and sports gear. Even though some items will wait before I wear or use
them, I am happy to see them on the shelf instead of hoodies and mittens.
I’ve been doing a wardrobe switch twice a year
since childhood. With seasonal differences being less dramatic during the years
I lived along the west coast or in the Middle East, adjustments for weather
have always been part of the rhythm of my life: twice a year, with anticipation
for different, hopefully good, times.
This year, in putting things away, I paused as I
realized that I am no longer wearing a mask every time I am in a public space.
I want to acknowledge that many people, including some readers of this
newspaper, still wear one, and I respect their choice to do so. On the other
hand, I believe that this experience is finally behind me. I do not wear a
mask; I do not carry proof of my vaccination status; and I do not wonder about
protocols with the gym, restaurants, theatres, and shops.
I do still feel bewildered about where the last 3
years went. In so many ways the time crept by, and in yet other ways it flew
by. Some days still seem like Blursday, and I am yet to overcome sticker shock
at how much more costly life is compared to pre-COVID. I am sad about
businesses and organizations that did not survive. And I am beyond words when I
consider the incalculable losses suffered by countless people around the world.
All of that being the case, I also want to
celebrate that we made it this far. I want to believe that lessons have been
learned and that we have come through this experience with wisdom and insights
for a better future. From the Baha’i writings: “Lift up your hearts above the
present and look with eyes of faith into the future!”
As I was writing this, I went for a walk around
Ayr. I came back with the idea of sharing with you the best part of it: With
our masks off, we can once again see smiles as we greet each other with a
friendly hello. Welcome back, Ayr!
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Submitted
to Ayr News by Jaellayna Palmer, May 2023
©
Jaellayna Palmer