… when “trillion” was an impossibly huge number that never came up in real conversation. Or newscasts.

… when “mid- to upper-30s” came with modifiers like “mild” or even “warm” in weather forecasts rather than “nippy.”

… when the idea of eating lunch outside seemed so remote as to be fictional.

… when I could walk farther than a mile without wilting.

… when I thought the worst that would likely happen to my job was a salary freeze. (The worst that could happen is another story entirely, but that’s not likely, so I won’t entertain those thoughts yet.)

… when getting into the car meant getting into something that was colder than you left it rather than warmer.

… when the phrase “back of the brain” didn’t seem so disorienting.

… when hearing the phrase “TEA parties” sounded like something that could be defined as “having parties involving the drinking of tea, the eating of crumpets, and light conversation.”

—————-

What a difference a short period of time makes.

Also, clearly much of what’s happened in my life recently is spring-related. And that’s a good thing.