...and so vacation winds down. It has been absolutely beautiful here in upstate New York for the last several days. Quintessential summer weather has been upon us...high 70's, breezes, full blue sunny skies. You couldn't ask for much more. It is going to make going back to work on Monday a real bear, although, for the most part, the time between April break and the end of school really does seem to fly. This is surely in no part due to the fact that as one ages, the relativity of time changes. As I am sure I have stated before, I am in no way getting any older. (yeah, birthday month is still fresh in the mind...takes a while to come down off the hat trick that is what we call the March Birthday Season for our family of 4)



When you live in Upstate New York it is hard to convey the absolute high that comes from weather like this to "others." People that live in the south, or Florida in particular, can hardly relate to the extremes that we experience. It was under a month ago that we were in a deep freeze, under snow, and not sure if or when it would end. May has brought snow to us in the past, so when it is "summer" in April you really take notice. I was talking with Tim on a drive the other day, sun glaring, music blaring, and we came to a conclusion. Human beings, on the whole, resist change. Oh sure, we want stimulation and excitement in our lives, but when you really think of it, those things are different. Change is hard. Change is adapting to new places, people and things. Change is struggle and acceptance. Change is often part choice, but often part put upon us as well. Perhaps those of us that live in Upstate are better equipped to deal with change in general because it is forced upon us, at least four times a year, if not more, due to where we live. We get the excitement of the first snowfalls and first sunny days, but have to deal with annual maintenance of both snowblowers and lawnmowers. We get the cool temperatures of fall and winter and de-thawing warmth of spring and summer, but must get out, and again store, wardrobes to cope with each. We live change at all times, dealing not only with springsummerwinterfall, but ice season and mud season as well. Change is inevitable because change is a part of who we are, where we are and what we are. So, embracing change, I am headed out into the sun...to enjoy this taste of summer, and anticipate our wonderfully long teacher vacation to come!
-Cheryl