day 158: let the sunshine in...

03.19.10 (posted 03.21.10 ) - when i first moved to new york 9 and 1/2 years ago, i thought it was the funniest thing to see people flock to the parks and any open space, peel off all their layers of clothing, and just bask in the sun at the first sign of temperatures hitting 60 degrees. it was almost a primal instinct... see sun... need sun... soak up sun...

having grown up in california, it was just plain strange to me to see people laying out in any place other than a beach. i also never heard anyone say "the weather today is beautiful"... because practically everyday in southern california is um... gorgeous... plus i could not wrap my head around s.a.d. (seasonal affective disorder or the winter blues). huh? people get sad in cold months? and, you could get lights that simulate the sun? really? it was all new territory for me.

well fast forward to present day and i have become one of those... eeekkk, gasp... "sun worshippers". at the first signs that the temps would be hitting 70+ degrees, i could hardly contain myself. what? no need to wear 5 gazillion layers? i could eat al fresco? wear sunglasses? why, yes!

i could feel my spirits lifting at the mere thought that spring is near. i guess i wasn't the only one. as i enjoyed a nice lunch with my co-workers at bowling green park today, i saw plenty of folks taking in the warmth and glow of sun as well.... from the workers packing the benches on their lunch break, students on their field trips, enthusiastic tourists snapping pictures near the wall street bull, to a human statue street performer.

looking forward to more days like this!