A friend of mine said something two days ago that is still reverberating in my head: 

“It’s been just about the perfect winter.” 

Now, up front I want to state that this particular woman has always impressed me with her optimistic, sunshine-filled nature.  She can turn a lemon into a lemonade so good you’ll forget you don’t even like lemons.  

It was me that responded with derision.  I was the one that couldn’t help but to remember COVID and say—out loud even: “Yeah, except for the fact we can’t go anywhere or do anything because of the pandemic.”

She clarified herself and pointed out the good about these past few months.  The snow cover had been constant, with “good snow” for downhill and cross-country skiing.  There were only a few nights when the mercury dropped into the dangerous zone.  Almost every Sunday brought clear skies and light winds.  Our group had managed to get together with the dogs, and bundled up, we felt warm enough to stay outside for at least an hour each time. 

The winter’s positives extended into her family.  Her daughter should have been off to college for her freshman year, but she waited a year and is now home.  Knowing that this might be difficult to pull off again, the family grabbed the opportunity to take a two-day trip. 

Because all of them have flexible schedules under COVID, they took advantage of low, midweek condo rentals.  They paid much less than normal, and they visited a different Vermont ski resort.  The smaller crowds on the mountain even made for more enjoyable runs.   

One would think that after eleven months of searching for a “silver lining,” it might come naturally to me by this point.  I am disappointed in myself that I sneered mentally at first when I heard her say “it’s been just about the perfect winter.”

Two days later, I am catching on.  Sometimes, I just guess I just need to get out of my own way.

Having a friend who finds silver linings without even looking? That’s my silver lining, two days late.