How strange it is that in a matter of two months, the most commonplace things can elicit such joy. Where once a sky brushstroked with contrails was nothing more than a backdrop, their sheer rarity over the one-hundredth meridian is now cause for studious observation. Where is it going? Who is on-board? Watching as a plane fades from view gives me bittersweet escape to daydream of adventures both past and planned for the future (assuming life resumes to what we knew). Afterwards, I trace the flightpath to assuage my curiosity. The only thing flying now is cargo.

And on May 14, an even more inspiring display in the sky as the Canadian Forces air demonstration squadron—known as the Snowbirds—flew overhead in perfect formation. Soaring over my urban home, it was a sight unseen since I last visited an airshow with my father decades ago and provided a welcome surprise to my new monotonous daily routine. A moment intended to get people through a tough time, they succeeded in their mission of offering solace to Canadians who had the chance to observe their grace.

That high was short-lived as the unrelenting year gave no pause to its hardship.