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