It’s Easter this weekend, so the city is a little quieter than usual this week. The quiet of winter still lingers, too, despite spring starting last week. Of course, this is how seasons work, but I’ve been paying closer attention to the nuances of these transitional times of year. The first day of spring feels like the true New Year’s Day to me, but I went days before I noticed that the equinox had already passed. I even inadvertently mentioned that “winter is still here” to a loved one in an emotional support text—three days after the first day of spring.
This might not sound like a big deal to most, but I put a lot of stock into remembering dates. Each day has significance, but you have to either look deep for it or cultivate it yourself. I don’t celebrate much of the big holidays—Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July. I only have vague memories of celebrating Easter when I was young. Outside of that, though, I keep diligent track of birthdays, anniversaries, and my own traditions, and the ones I create with others. So when a day I put a lot of stock in passes me right by, I have to wonder—where was my head at instead? Am I being present? Did I get too busy? Oh shoot, am I overworked?
Perhaps holidays can serve as checkpoints. How do I feel now compared to the last previous holiday? What am I looking forward to between now and the next one? Holidays are a chance to slow down and check-in—with yourself and with others, especially the loved ones.
I’m hoping to meditate on that sometime over the next few days. I invite you to do the same. And along the way, why not check out this week’s roundup—which includes the return of Miniball and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Pop Up Gardens, and a new performance from InterAct Theatre, The Last Yiddish Speaker. We’ve also got movie screenings for April ready for you, too.
Enjoy your holiday, Philly! Whatever that may be,
Kyle V. Hiller
BSR associate editor
