Good morning, DMV*! It’s Tuesday, March 31.
Each year, it seems, when cherry blossoms are in their full glory, the weather turns. Peak bloom on the Tidal Basin was declared Thursday. It rained Friday and again yesterday.
I decided I needed to spend more time outdoors to drink up the beauty of spring before it disappears.
I went on a long bike ride with a friend Friday, to Lake Artemesia in College Park, Maryland. As we passed an open expanse with a view, I marveled at the dark storm clouds on the horizon. The rain had been intermittent, but then started coming down harder. My friend asked if I wanted to go back. But it didn’t bother me, I said, let’s keep going.
We stopped for a break, sitting cross-legged in a pavilion on the lake. I heard geese flying toward us, gliding low, and I watched, hoping to see them skid to a halt on the water. But they lifted up again, simply passing us by. I remarked that they, like us, came just to see and be near the lake, and that was enough.
Yesterday, while I was out around town, it rained off and on again. With each gust of wind came a sprinkle of cherry blossoms, coating our streets and sidewalks in light pink petals.
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📰 News around the DMV
Trump administration expands push to hire early-career federal employees (Federal News Network)
📷 Your joy
(Natalie Sharpe)
Natalie Sharpe took this photo on March 20 in the parking lot of her condo in Ellicott City, Maryland, after long walk on a sunny day.
“I finally got up the courage to draw on the sidewalk with chalk. I’m 33. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s okay to do things that are for ‘kids,’ despite what other people might think. I was pleasantly surprised when one lady passing at a distance said, ‘I can’t wait to see what you write,’” Natalie wrote.
She wanted to draw “cute summer/warm weather images,” so she drew what she saw on the box of chalk. She chose a spot on the sidewalk where there’s not a lot of foot traffic.
(Natalie Sharpe)
“I was kind of embarrassed so wanted a more private area, and also figured no one could get mad at me if I did it in an area that is not highly trafficked … I felt fantastic!”
🌷 Spring break
I’ll be off the rest of this week. Enjoy the spring blooms, and see you Monday!
* For those of you wondering: The DMV is how residents here call the D.C. region, which includes Maryland and Virginia. I’d get emails from people asking about this every few weeks. Now you know.
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