One of the things I noticed my first spring living on the east end was how beautiful and powerful springtime is living near the ocean. There is a huge difference between traveling to work in Manhattan than driving from Montauk to Bridgehampton to get to an office.
With the clocks now moved back and the amount of sunlight growing day by day, the east end is coming alive. March 20, will be the first day of Spring this year. Finally, winter is all but over and the power of warmer sunlight along with its magic is at hand. The harsh winter ocean breeze now starts to turn docile and pleasant day by day. For sixty-something folks the warmth is welcomed. It soothes our old bones and muscles and somehow makes us act and feel younger.
There was a time when Spring meant “Little League,” baseball. I still remember getting my first ever little league cap and what a big deal that was. We all can remember back in school, that first warm day of Spring allowing “gym/physical education,” to once again be outdoors! It was always strange exiting the school out the locker room door and getting reacquainted with the school’s athletic field.
The home where I raised my children was located on the corner of Prospect Hill, our local grammar school. I can recall the magic sounds of young children the first day they could go outside for recess. I lived in that home for a decade. As I aged, that unique sound of kindergarten kids joyfully shouting and laughing as that ran out the door for recess never aged.
The young are always young, just different people are young. There is always new class of young folks every year.
“Spring fever,” is a term for a sort of restlessness that comes every spring after being couped up inside staying warm all winter. The colleges created “Spring Break,” to combat the transition from winter to spring. I know it was easier to skip an afternoon class when basting in those first warm days on the college quad. In high school it was tough those first spring afternoons watching the clock hoping it might move faster so one could get out of school and enjoy the wonderful new spring weather.
When I worked on 42nd and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan my office was a mere 22 floors above Bryant Park. I can assure you when spring rolled around every year, I found some excuse to get out for a stroll around the park. Maybe fetch a coffee and a big pretzel. Everybody smiled as one passed. Spring fever doesn’t make you ill, it makes you actually feel better.
Now, as I enter my most senior years watching things grow has a new importance. You notice how trees have grown thicker and taller over the years. How shrubs and bushes have matured. I still get a thrill seeing the first shoots of the daffodils and tulips poke out of the ground. Watching the growing cycle come back alive makes me feel more alive.
In a matter of weeks, a new sailing season will begin on the east end. I passed the marinas and noticed activity at the local boatyards picking up. Soon newly painted boats, will be launching back into the water. Also farm stands with start selling fresh east end strawberries. As the earth comes back to life and show the amazing colors of fruit trees blossoming one does feel renewal. There is a desire to take a walk and feel the power of Spring. Reflect on how much we have to be thankful for and start making plans for things we want do this summer. Summers on the east end is the gold standard for enjoyment of life.
