By Susan Lesh
What a difference a month makes! As we move from the spring equinox, March is about to exit like a lamb, with beautiful sunny days that are just beginning to lengthen. I felt like these days would never arrive with the gray-cold-snowy-rainy weather (ugh!) keeping me cooped up inside
I am ready to leave the house! I’ve set up my outside furniture and have begun to bask in the sunlight, which is quite warm on my face. Although still a little chilly, I take my coffee outside to enjoy it with birdsong. I joined Mary Matsui’s bird walk at De Korte Park and was delighted to see the pussy willows, snow drops, and hellebore flowering. We saw many red-winged blackbirds, black-capped chickadees, and a tufted titmouse at one of the feeding stations. We turned to see many ducks, geese, swans, and tree swallows around the water. Such activity! Thanks to Mary for the bird walk and to Diane Koszarski, who is organizing these weekend social outings.
After a year of restrictions and anxiety, this springtime feels particularly hopeful. Many of us have received at least one vaccination. Our Re-Opening Task Force, in its phased approach, is now allowing small committee meetings to occur indoors with members who are fully vaccinated. Curt Collier, our new interim leader, is starting a weekly gathering (right now on Zoom) on Thursday evenings called Chat with Curt, and he has some fresh thoughts on our Ethical Culture movement. Please feel free to join in the conversation; David sends the link in his Weekly Announcements email. The Women’s Dinners have resumed as luncheons on the lawn at the Society building. Perry Stein, building chair, is moving ahead with the building renovations that were put on hold last spring. There is also forward movement with putting in the hybrid technology that we will need for platforms that will be both on Zoom and in person in the meetinghouse. All of this forward motion, which seemed long-term throughout the winter, is now cranking up in energy as we see the successful vaccination of the country.
I look forward to seeing you, my Ethical community, in the good weather and sunshine, and perhaps in person as we continue our move forward toward returning to our activities in the meetinghouse.
Susan Lesh is president of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.
