Sandy Supposes....

Sunshine Reason Enough to Smile

PROMPT May 1st

Tell us something uplifting! We need good news now more than ever. What is something positive that happened or is about to happen in your life? What has made you smile recently?

         Well, today is a sunny, bare-feet-in-flip-flops and no-jacket-required kind of day. That freakish blizzard nine days ago dumped too much snow on top of the residual , stubborn, I'm-in-no-hurry-to-melt stuff. Finally, all traces of the snow have vacated the ground and the sun-starved grass is greening. The nearby lake has reappeared and the birdlife seems ecstatic. Now, I hear honking geese and quacking ducks, although the screeching sea gulls love the sound of their own voices.

         The pale white skin of my neighbours is flouted in shorts and t-shirts, the same people who bundled in coats and scarves two days ago. While grocery shopping this afternoon, the woman swathed in a knitted scarf wrapped around a face mask caught my eye. Come to think of it, most of her body appeared to be covered. I bet she simmered under all of her layers. Another woman, masked and gloved, trembled at a checkout. All shoppers overheard her say that she felt anxious and this was her first foray in six weeks.

         I engaged in a discussion with a clerk about the lovely smell of her checkout aisle. She laughed when I confessed that I liked the aroma of disinfectant, so I must be strange. I learned it was Pinesol and after a shift swiping everything with it a headache ensues. Grocery shopping evokes smells of a hospital now.

         A fellow shopper remarked that she never thought she'd be looking for supplies in a store with arrows taped to the floor to indicate traffic flow and that she'd be driving the wrong way down a one-way lane. At another 'intersection' in the store, this same woman glanced at me and rolled her eyes before nodding towards the meat department. Yes, we were spaced at intervals and each awaiting our turn to peruse the selection. We have accepted our new normal. It is tricky when we use our polite, Canadian code-of-conduct-card and insist, "No, no, after you." Someone has to make a move.

          I tried not to chuckle at the staff who endeavour to give us all a wide berth while stocking shelves. I don't know whether to feel important, or insulted. I doubt this is a show of respect, but rather a reaction to the possibility I'm a Covid carrier. The dance we attempt to do is sometimes comical. We often resort to an immediate backing up without first looking for other carts. The faces that these shoppers create are the stereotypical 'whoa' face. Are they surprised?

         Despite my belief that it's much too early, gardening paraphernalia is stacked up at the local grocer's. The sight of vibrant yellow and purple blooms made me grin. That pop of intense colour after a too long winter is more than welcome.

         This burst of glorious warm sunshine is life-affirming. What are those song lyrics? "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy." Strolling at a deliberate sauntering pace is wonderful. No need yet to scurry and wave my arms at voracious bloodthirsty insects. For the time being, I'm not a crazy woman swatting and stomping my way down the street.

         My youngest daughter has 're-uncancelled' her impending wedding. It's set for the end of August. Maybe I'm no longer impartial, or perhaps I've lost count, but it seemed like every week she wavered as to a decision. I choose to see this as an optimistic sign.

         The official news from the province I reside in looks optimistic too. As of May 4th, some of the restrictions will be lifted re opening job sites. Although I've loved the bi-weekly Facetime chats with my daughters and my youngest grandgiggle, I miss the in-person interactions. Within a week or two, the inter-province travelling ban will be a thing of the past and I will be free to visit them. Huh, I will actually see, face to face, my other two grandgiggles who live a kilometre away, too. These are my reasons to smile today!