Amid bleak days, signs of spring
Moving the clocks forward felt symbolic, like a sign that things will get better
What bleak days these have been. War, inflation and COVID -19, still, despite some precautionary measures being lifted. But earlier this week, we moved our clocks ahead by an hour, and this year, that “extra” daylight also felt symbolic — like a sign that things will get brighter, better.
Yesterday, I paired my winter anorak with sneakers, and only sockettes, showing some ankle — a first in oh, so long. Beyond the sartorial ambiguity, the contrasting and semi-light combo was another sure sign that, as indicated by the calendar, spring is almost here. I've hung on to this promise of a season change and warmer days for what has seemed like the longest never-ending-uary.
But one of the lessons I've learned in the past two pandemic years or so is to find joy in the little things. That has been a helpful tool, even if the news reports have so often been devastating, as they certainly were this week. Still, some bright spots managed to shine through.
Just like changing clocks and booking an appointment to change our car's winter tires, nothing says “spring is almost here” like March Madness. The annual event pits the best American university basketball teams against each other in a single-elimination tournament. It's a fun and energetic televised grand affair, one of amateur sport's marquee events. Every year, the round of the Final Four — the semifinals — attracts more than 15 million TV viewers for the men's tournament and more than five million for the women's tournament.
One of the lessons I've learned in the past two pandemic years or so is to find joy in the little things.
This year, March Madness will have a Quebec flair to it, as 10 Quebecers are on the rosters of various participating universities, including Vermont, Yale and Marquette. Kiandra Browne, Donna Ntambue, Tyrese Samuel, Eze Dike, Nathan Cayo, Julie Brosseau, Andrea Torres, Olivier-maxence Prosper, Bennedict Mathurin and Georges Lefebvre, all at different universities, make up a cohort that is both impressive and historic in number.
In 2020, Nadine Girault, Quebec's Minister of International Relations, launched the Institut de la diplomatie québécoise, with the objective of professionalizing Quebec's representation around the world, to the highest standards. It's a wonderful initiative but we shouldn't overlook sports diplomacy and its potential new Quebec ambassadors. Now more than ever, athletes have both influence and clout. Look at professional basketball players like Lebron James, who was able to mobilize millions of people and dollars for such causes as social justice and voting rights, as well as the growing international reach of the National Basketball Association; NBA games are now broadcast in prime time in markets like Canada, Europe and Africa.
The thought that members of the Quebec March Madness cohort could soon become influential ambassadors makes me hopeful, proud and happy. This joy was in perfect alignment with the excitement and anticipation that Montreal's own Arcade Fire is to release new music this week — an amuse-bouche to their upcoming album, following 2017's Everything Now. As a treat to fans and with the objective of raising money for Ukraine, the group performed a few days ago, in New Orleans, and broadcast the show on social media platforms. This offered unexpected access to a live show — something I haven't experienced in more than two years. I had forgotten how good it felt to witness live music, and, despite the telephone screen and distance that separated us, I felt at one with the audience.
It was a needed reminder of the power of the arts and of sports. That despite our recent divisions and the numerous pandemic-related restrictions, what we have in common is what brings us together: the love of music or that of basketball.
Arcade Fire's live set kicked off with a new song, Age of Anxiety. That, too, alas, served as a reminder.