Onion Spring 2017

We all recently experienced a very warm couple of days in much of the U.S. Here in Pennsylvania we had three days of highs in the 70s. It was unlike anything that I've ever seen for the month of February. I am dubbing this "Onion Spring 2017," based upon the term "onion snow," which is quite irrelevant this year.

To me and others, this February warmth feels most unnatural. It is not common for this time of the year and it may end up damaging growing things; plants and trees rely upon the four seasons. The unusually early growth may damage fruit trees, as well as perennial flowers and plants. Early budding is harmed by damaging frosts that inevitably arrive at some point.

On a more positive note, it was a chance to enjoy some nice weather and get outside. Enjoying the odd weather has been a guilty pleasure for me. For many it was an opportunity to feel alive after a few chilly, gray months. This feeling of exuberance created a social renaissance of sorts. From Thursday to Saturday, there were more people at local coffee shops. I even got to meet two new Facebook friends in person!

Everyone was chipper and excited, so there were better conversations and more meaningful social interactions. Bar rooms were also packed to the gills for some wonderful day-drinking. Such activity was a major draw for local bars and pubs that were advertising on social media. When the first warm days of spring arrive, all the bikers and service industry people rush out to get "day-drunk."

This past week there was a flurry of outdoor activities that included walking, skateboarding, running and biking. Local nature trails were packed, including by people walking their dogs. I was even able to do some urban exploring this past week. On Thursday, I got to walk around College Hill in Easton, while on Friday I got to explore South Bethlehem.

Easton's College Hill was fun because I got to walk by the street of my good friend Marybeth and her husband. Lafayette's campus is beautiful and the nearby homes are equally quaint and historic. South Bethlehem was cool because I used to live there in 2011 and 2012. I had also done pub crawls there over the years and greatly enjoyed seeing the buildings and scenery that brought back old memories. There were locals and Lehigh students who were soaking up the sun, just as they did near my rental room in the spring of 2011!

In 2017, as a major goal, I want to get more into journaling my experiences of urban exploring. I plan to continue taking street photography from different local cities and municipalities. I want to write about my new experiences in those locales, and to reminisce about any relevant old memories! With new income, I will include art exhibits and restaurants into my public reviews. I will be able to get a taste of each new town, both literally and figuratively!