Monday, March 08, 2010

I Went to Brooklyn Today

I often smile when I think of the way West Michiganders (over)react to sunny days. You see, the combination of winds over Lake Michigan and the state's northern latitude leave West Michigan with more than its fair share of overcast, gray days. Native dwellers learn early that if one is fortunate enough to encounter sunshine, one simply must go outdoors and quickly absorb some vitamin D. Staying indoors on a sunny day is almost a crime. "Better go outside now," one might think. "You don't know when the sun will come out again!" It reminds me of a Ray Bradbury story called, "All Summer in a Day," in which humans inhabit a planet where summer only comes for one day once every 17 years, and good grief do those people go crazy with excitement when the sun comes out.

This urge to be outside every time the sun shines poses a problem for West Michiganders who move to, say, Florida. Or the Southwest. Hard to be productive when you're outside all the time.

Anyway, today was one of those glorious days when there was nary a cloud in the sky, and I could feel my West Michigan sun-greed impulse in full effect. I decided to explore Brooklyn, a borough I've not yet had the opportunity to know well. I'm so glad I did, because not only did I see quaint neighborhoods, brownstones, Prospect Park, and antique shops, but I also saw signs like this:

2 comments:

Michelle said...

u still funemployed I see ? ;-)
today was a beauty here in ol' Mich.

7 full days of sunshine and
I forgot where I lived for a week.

Laurie said...

This is so true. I will actually feel guilty if I'm inside and the sun is out. That's taking the West Michigan sun thing and adding in a little CRC guilt thing. :)

Glad you are back on the 'ole blog. I gave up fb for lent so I'm back to reading blogs (thank goodness) and done with thinking in status updates (thank goodness.)