April Showers, Purple Flowers

Gray, light gray, occasional slate—this is Belgium’s color palate, I thought rather bleakly a few months ago. A faint blush warmed to pink. Then suddenly, the entire landscape was obliterated with green. It’s been shocking.

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This week’s predominant color combination is green and purple. Every walk is perfumed with lilac—I smell them before I see them. Bowers of wisteria climb along walls and around door frames. Violets bob merrily in the breeze underneath hedges. Bushes of little purple whatevers burst out of brick walls everywhere. Bluebells hide on the forest floor.

The Belgian government announced some early plans to slowly start lifting the lockdown. Everything seems greener, smells better, feels more hopeful. What does this mean for school? Unknown. When can we venture a little further from our house? Unclear. But it’s a start, and I’ll take it!

I’ll be happy to stop getting emails from the embassy that read, “U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.” Reading those emails, along with news from the States about Virginia being under a stay at home order until mid-June, is when I would start to feel suffocated.

I’m so thankful we’ve been able to exercise and walk outside throughout this time. Everything seems better after a walk, a spring rain shower, a brilliant spray of purple blossoms. I’m getting really familiar with the neighborhoods within a couple miles of us. Like the signs say in many of my neighbors’ windows: tout ira bien—all will be well!

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