But as I left my house this afternoon, I noticed that two brave little daffodils that had been discouraged from blooming by a callous snowfall 10 days ago were making a second attempt to show their little yellow faces. But the Beltline remained it’s winter-dreary self mitigated only by tiny patches of vibrant scilla that poked up through last fall’s shrivelled leaves. Upon reaching the park however, my spirits were lifted by the sight and sounds of children making the most of their Easter Monday freedom. Teenagers tossed their frisbees, a gaggle of boys and girls had improvised a cricket pitch among the trees, youngsters kicked a soccer ball back and forth, two young men were engaged in a serious tennis match, a ‘mature’ couple cuddled on a bench in full view; there were dogs and smiling owners everywhere. Every piece of equipment in the stroller-set area was in full motion as parents and nannies juggled juice boxes, discarded clothing and younger siblings. The slightly older children were trying out their newly handed down bikes, skateboards and roller blades. And on a patch of fairly flat grass two extremely proud parents beamed as their tiny toddler took her first uneven steps.
On my return walk home I noted that the afternoon’s barren trees and shrubs were now stippled with green shoots. Then I recalled that not one but two weary commuters had offered me a seat on the crowded subway train and I knew for sure that spring had come to Toronto.
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