Last Sunday was a perfect Alberta day in May. The trees were finally budding and the grass was confidently approaching a rich green color. Not a cloud in the sky, it seemed the day was promising a cheery atmosphere that defied the challenging pandemic restrictions.

I was cruising around Edmonton in what I consider my hot little sports car, listening to a interesting radio interview. The on air program featured a Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor. The journalist reported that Taylor was in his late 80s, a professor emeritus at McGill University and was widely known for his writing about the common good and an adherence to being “hopelessly optimistic.”

“Hopelessly optimistic” in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic? “How does that play out?”, I asked myself. Likely Taylor had a more heady way of describing a philosophy of optimism but I looked at the phrase literally . I began searching for examples that might exemplify positive takeaways during this current challenging time. Where are the silver linings?

Here is what I came up with.

Dogs, dogs, dogs! Many people I know, including my oldest son’s family, have recently welcomed “Covid dogs” into their homes. No, these are not dogs that have contracted Coronavirus, but rather they are puppies who found new homes during the epidemic. I personally know of seven families who have new canine babies in their lives. All shapes, sizes and breeds, my own grand dog is a beautiful crimson colored King Charles Cavalier Spaniel with a perfect white snout and almond shaped eyes. Ruby is 10 weeks old and has become a positive addition to our extended household. My three Edmonton grandchildren are enthralled with their little “sister” and (so far) are happy to care for her. Learning to take responsibility for another is a wonderful skill that will hopefully serve them well in the years to come.

Prior to the onset of the pandemic, my internet activity was limited to google searches, FaceTime calls with my Calgary grandchildren and occasionally lurking on Facebook and Instagram. The mandated weeks of isolation underscored the need to engage with people in new ways. Zoom, Houseparty and Marco Polo became the go to apps. In the earliest weeks of quarantine I was introduced to canasta online. Playing almost daily, with girlfriends from both sides of the border, the game provided me with the opportunity to meet new friends with names like Boca Babe and Cookie and stay connected to old.

Another group of longtime Edmonton friends touch base daily at a scheduled cocktail party. Sharing an hour or so each day has become something to look forward to. Not unlike meeting in person, we often vie for the “microphone”, excitedly talking over each other while trying to make a point. Enjoying a shared time and often a good laugh the Houseparty event is a highlight of my day.

During the pandemic, I have been on FaceTime listening to my two oldest grandchildren doing their home reading. How wonderful to spend time with these two special boys – one on one. My oldest grandchild, 10 year old Ryder, also shared one of his writing projects with me. The assignment involved choosing a picture and describing the situation and surroundings.
A proud grandmother -I am sharing his story and the picture he described.

My youngest sister Margaret Anne is the president of an organization devoted to promoting longevity (The Canadian International Longevity Center) – highlighting and dispelling the many negative myths surrounding aging. A strong advocate for seniors’ rights, Margaret has been interviewed on radio and tv numerous times in the last few months. She and others have particularly alerted us to the wretched conditions in many long term care facilities. Certainly, many of the deaths related to the virus have been in these assisted living homes. While this reality is extremely disturbing, the recent elevated focus on this issue is essential and will hopefully amount to improved policies and practises. Silver lining ??

On the theme of looking for positivity when it comes to the pandemic and seniors, I share two stories you may have seen on recent news broadcasts. One hundred year old British man, Tom Moore, headed a fundraising campaign to support his health care system. Moore tramped circles around his backyard and reportedly raised more than $55million CAD for the cause. His videoed walk went viral, with thousands of viewers and hundreds of donations.

A Canadian centenarian woman, Joy Saunders, provides a second story of senior tenacity. Inspired by the spunky Brit,Tom, Joy , a 102 year old retired Canadian nurse, walked .8 kilometres 102 times! She is walking to raise money for the Victorian Order of Nurses – the organization that was her former employer. Moore and Saunders exemplify tough resilience and determination. Admirable role models! Commendable seniors ! Hopelessly optimistic!

So, the human spirit prevails. The need to connect, help others and find ways to push through adversity are alive and well. The examples I highlighted of that spirit are clearly silver linings to our current cloudy reality.