Spring awakening

In between the rain showers, there’s no doubt anymore. Spring has come.

This is my second spring as a UK resident, the third if I include the frequent visits in the spring of 2022. But this is the first time I’ve had the time to look around and appreciate what’s happening, to notice the small details and be delighted by them.

On this day four years ago, I was living in Norway. COVID-19 had just fixed its grip around the world. In the relative quiet of working from home, I had more headspace to reflect and feel what I felt. To put it simply, I didn’t feel anything.

I had no ambitions except ageing with grace, no dreams, and no desires to speak of, and I saw this as a good thing. If I didn’t want anything, I wouldn’t be disappointed.

My only plan was to work until retirement and grow progressively older. And then, one day, it would all be over.

But it’s not over until it’s over.

I didn’t know that a miracle was about to happen that summer.

And I, who only expected the bleak palette of winter, am now enjoying the colours of spring as if for the first time.