Something for spring

To the editor: I‘d like to propose a new holiday - designed for areas like ours where a long winter can wear on the spirit. The first day in the springtime where temps are reliably predicted to stay above, say, 70 degrees with sunny skies would THAT MORNING be declared “Airing-Out Day” by local officials (kinda like, but kinda the opposite of, a snow day) — a day for everyone to raise the storm windows, throw open their doors, and generally open up their houses to new, fresh, springtime air. The news of the declaration would be spread by word of mouth, and by children (schools closed!) running along the sidewalks playing drums and bells, calling out something like “it’s spring, without a doubt! It’s time to air it out!” or singing the day’s theme song, George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.” Spontaneous parades and celebratory gatherings would be encouraged. Neighbors, who may not have seen each other since hunkering down the previous fall, would visit each other on porches and stoops. Non-essential workers would be allowed to take all or part of the day off. Stores could have sudden “Airing-Out Day” sales on things like plants, fans, potpourris, gardening tools, and outdoor furniture, though the unnecessary use of cars would be seen as tacky. Salads would be the preferred meal. Outdoor concerts near dusk - small gatherings and singalongs on porches, and/or larger gatherings in parks - would wrap up the day. And today would be a fine day for it, don’t you think? Or maybe tomorrow? Skip Mendler Honesdale