Somehow I have been lacking in enthusiasm,missing the light spirit or "geffi" -a Greek word that explains it better.
However ,early this Easter morning I went out for a walk-I was alone , the sun shone,the leaves rustled gently in the breeze and I could almost hear the Easter Bunny stealing through the grasses. Everything felt fresh and new and I rejoiced When I came home the words flowed.
Four days ago, my daughter came to rescue me from a doorkey disaster which she quickly solved. She also topped up my groceries with a precious gluten free bread and the ultimate Canadian essential T.P.s! We then decided to go for a walk in the park near my apartment building.
The park is a mundane playground and football field and is skirted by the lovely Bowker Creek. A foot path follows the creek. We walked this path using the "social distancing guide lines." This meant walking in line six feet apart and this also meant, instead of talking, we were looking and that also meant we were "seeing." which was an advantage. We looked and saw brilliant yellow buttercup-like flowers cascading down the creek bank to the water and masses of white chamomile blossoms scattered gaily throughout the abandoned playground. Next we entered a huge empty field with a foot path running through the length of it. The entire field was carpeted in the white chamomile interspersed with jewel like wild flowers.
It was as if we were looking at a medieval tapestry. The air was brilliant, clear and magical. The sky glowed blue, the trees shimmered green and palest yellow and the ground glowed in brilliant white ,gold and pink. I could easily imagine gracious ladies and gallant knights covertly flirting in this environment. Well- that is a bit over the top perhaps but not too far.- We decided to slow down and look closer at the delicate minute flora. The colours ranged jewel-like from delicate blush pink to pale mauve and gradually to vivid purple; the blue flowers ranged from the palest hue to robust thrusting cobalt and throughout all these were the sparkling gay buttercups. We were alone, there was complete silence. I said to my daughter- "it is as though we are walking through an alpine meadow or maybe in the meadow on Mt. Hymattos near our home in Greece as we used to do in spring so many years ago." At this point a light breeze sprang up, lifting my hair and stirring the leaves on the distant trees to shimmering gold and I felt the magic. I have walked this field countless times but never have I felt this magic-it is an ordinary field often soggy. I have never seen such vivid colours in nature here, have rarely seen such a clear blue sky and I never imagine medieval ladies and gallant knights here either.
We finally ,after a long walk, decided to walk back to my apartment through the back lanes. The back lanes of Victoria are precious. A reminder of long ago carefree times. We enjoyed looking at the back lane gardens and marveled at the imaginative landscaping of Victorians.
The next day I walked the same walk. It was not the same. The medieval tapestry was gone, the trees were not shimmering, there were less wild flowers and lots of dandelions. the sky was not so brilliant. On the grass instead of gallant ladies and knights there were two young women in brief clothing using "social distancing" doing "jumping Jacks." I was disappointed-there was no magic after all.
Nonetheless I got over it when I realized that that first magical impact I had experienced the day before was due to the fact that the atmosphere must be clearer because human beings are finally staying home instead of rushing around in their cars,airplanes and buses and my eyes had been in shock-it wasn't magic after all--or was it?
So now after finishing my talk about my magical experience during this trying time, I wish you all a happy and safe Easter celebration.
