Spring showers?

Where did April go? Oh...., I know! A lot of my time went into gathering, like most people in the US did, personal financial data for the preparation and mailing of the annual tax returns required by Uncle Sam. Although that has been taken care of, I still remain involved in similar tasks for the foundation I manage. Corporate returns are due next month.

The first half of April was exceptionally cold and dry. Attending to chores, such as taxes, was quite a natural thing to do indoors. But in the last few days we are enjoying a spurt of unusual hot weather. It feels like we jumped into summer, and we have not even had spring with its typical showers. This outburst, however, short as it may be, was enough to bring all treets to a full bloom, and to activate sudden allergies even in people that nornally are not affected by them. It's interesting and very pleasant to see Manhattan lined with flowering trees along avenues and streets. What a change from decades ago when there was no planting of any kind, and, except for parks, gray cement was reigning almost everywhere on this island!

This is also a good time for all sorts of spring cleaning, when everyone is energized by the splendid sunshine and the fresh breezes blowing through the open windows! The amaryllis on my kitchen window sill, planted last December and bloomed by Valentine's day, is also gaining brand new leaves and shoots, and I....am off to some aerobic exercises in the pool that I frequent when time allows me. Let's go : it's a period of renewal!