I am writing to you sitting OUTSIDE on the deck, can hardly see the screen for the hot sun on my face. Thank you lord for this most amazing day. No, let me quote exactly from the great poet e.e. cummings:


i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes


The trees aren’t leaping greenly just yet, but what a joyful yes to feel life returning, the snow melting, though my yard still covered in thick mounds of white. Two bluejays at the bird-feeder. This morning, so glorious, I decided not to go to the Zumba class at the Community Centre, but to do something different – what? My neighbours have been raving about the new Regent Park Aquatic Centre, so I set off to do something I never ever do in winter – go swimming. Why, I used to reason, get cold and wet inside when it’s cold and wet outside?


Well, folks, my life has changed. A five minute bike ride from my front door is the most stunning new facility, vast and light-filled with huge pool, hot tub, kiddy pool and water slides. The change rooms are integrated; I’d read about it, but still, it’s a shock to open the door and see semi-naked men. But you do the actual removal of clothing in private cubicles. Then it’s into the pool, which isn’t cold as indoor pools often are. I’m not much of a swimmer – did some lanes, sat in the hot tub. But I loved it and will go regularly. I think. And incidentally, it’s free. Just wrote to Anna to tell her, come quickly with Eli. She sent back a picture of him eating rocks at the beach.


Yesterday, a huge treat – “Searching for Sugar man,” a documentary I will not forget. Beautiful, haunting, funny, with great music and an extraordinary story – I could not recommend it more. I won’t give away the mystery, but in the end, for me, the film explores what an artist does – that as you create what you create and send it into the world, you never know where it will end up, whom it will touch. And for a marvellous twist, the heroes of this story are white South Africans. 


Seeing it has left me feeling uplifted today, though with the sun and the bluejays, the swim and the rest of the day unfolding – errands in shoes not boots, cooking a roast for Wayson, watching a biopic about Jack Layton – I am just about afloat.