Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Brittany Pointe has remedy for SPRING FEVER
Spring fever is rampant at Brittany Pointe Estates, a retirement community in Lansdale. After the long year we have had, the warmth beckons to us like a lighthouse in a storm. The residents are eager to answer the call to once again enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures.
It is indeed a diverse population at Brittany Pointe — interests and favorite activities vary greatly. But they have one common denominator: the venue is the great outdoors.
Perhaps it is breathing the beautiful fresh air or the feeling of complete freedom, being outside of walls that contain them. On any given sunny day, you will see residents outside playing bocce, riding bikes, walking, playing shuffleboard or merely enjoying the company of their friends on a patio. Each has their own reason to love spring, and, being robbed of the opportunity to do the things they loved in spring of 2020 makes this year all the more special.
Recently, I asked some residents to share reflections on the approach of warmer weather.
Their responses are as diverse as they are.
Mike Kozempel
Forget the groundhog. What does he know? He’s wrong over 60% of the time. Temperatures above 40 degrees, some sun, and I’m ready for spring. Of course, I’ve been ready for spring since last spring.
I love nature, and my favorite place is Peace Valley Nature Center. Even with snow on the ground, there are telltale signs of spring. In my walks in the woods, I look for skunk cabbage.
The plant actually generates heat and melts the snow around it. Onion grass is growing, and the buds on the trees and bushes are starting to swell.
I can’t wait for my two favorite wildflowers to burst onto the scene: droopy yellow trout lily and pure, delicate white spring beauty. Although many of the birds have been here all winter, they become active now. The migratory birds are returning. One of the first is the red-winged black bird. Their distinctive call says spring is here.
I work part time at the Nature Center and have already given a bluebird workshop and tapped the sugar maple trees for our annual maple sugar festival. But the best part of spring is the kids visiting the Center for outdoor classes. There is nothing as exciting and satisfying as seeing a young kid’s eyes light up when he holds a worm for the first time, or sees a great blue heron fly overhead or catch a fish.
Walking in the woods and teaching about nature are therapeutic. I can enjoy the peace and serenity of nature and marvel at the excitement of the students. It
is very relaxing and relieves anxiety. Some years ago, a student asked me how old I was.
When I said 70, he looked at me and said, “Shouldn’t you be home resting?”
No. Getting out into nature is the best medicine.
Ginny Tinner
Though it is still often a little chilly for spring fever, as soon as the weather warms, I will be out walking daily. Just breathing in fresh air is exhilarating.
I am really a summer person, so as the weather warms, I’ll be looking forward to my favorite season. We spend much of the summer at our lake house at Lake Carey, Wyoming County. This is where we are always outside, the TV rarely gets turned on. Boating, swimming, campfires or just sitting by the lake reading or playing games with family are favorite activities. I have had way too much of winter! Come on spring and summer!
Barbara and Ken Green
As we contemplate spring fever on a gloomy, rainy February day, we’re thankful it is not snow. We have been looking forward to spring 2021 since March of 2020. The pandemic really brought our wanderlust to an unexpected stop.
Hawaii cruise … cancelled … Florida vacation with our entire family … cancelled. The list goes on and on. We were looking forward to an especially busy year of travel.
Our desire to be outdoors did not come to a complete halt. As a couple, we took every opportunity to walk in a park or around the property here at Brittany Pointe. Many days we clocked about 4.5 miles.
Now with spring’s arrival, we anticipate spending more time outdoors; daily walks and venturing out to our favorite breakfast place. As the weather warms, we will enjoy meals and reading on our patio, another good excuse to be outside.
What we missed the most was spending time with family who live nearby. Picnics and swim parties in their backyards will be high on our to-do list. A family vacation is already planned for August, in the mountains of PA. Our grandsons are involved in sports, so we will throw our canvas chairs in the trunk of the car and gather on the soccer fields.
We have also planned some time away: a trip to Florida with friends with visits from our two grandsons. A couple’s trip to Las Vegas is also back on the calendar after a cancellation last October. We have family in North Carolina that we plan to visit as well. This is the perfect time to visit Williamsburg, Va., a favorite destination. No summer would be complete for us without a trip to the Jersey shore ... beach time and definitely a “walk on the boards.”
Just making our plans, we feel rejuvenated and ready to pack our bags or get walking outdoors again. There is nothing that compares to breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the outdoors with our family and friends. Welcome spring 2021!
Liz and Dennis Bartelme
Liz says: Spring fever is here, partly due to the first winter in years that brought any measurable snow. I love the beginning of longer days and await the first buds and signs of green. I have noticed some of the spring bulbs showing their sprouts. I look forward to these longer days and sunshine and not wearing a coat. I walk outside whenever there isn’t snow on the ground and ride my bike when it is warm enough not to wear gloves. This year I am going to take advantage of our shuffleboard and bocce courts to practice and to teach my husband to play shuffleboard, which he has never played! Imagine that, at our age.
On warm days, we enjoy having neighbors over for margaritas or wine on the patio and enjoy the pleasure of their company. We certainly look forward to that after the long, cold winter.
Each year for the last four years, we have traveled to St. Pete Beach in Florida and shared a condo with old friends. We spend the month of March together, biking, walking, playing golf and reading by the pool. It is heavenly, sitting on the porch and watching the dolphins in the waterway, swimming one direction in the morning while I enjoy my tea, and watching