If there ever was a case for not believing everything you see in print, it’s last year’s Farmers’ Almanac which predicted a “kinder and gentler” winter overall, especially compared to the winter of 2010. Not at all, as we shivered through a frigid month that should have gone out docilely like a lamb, and instead, made April fools out of all of us who believed that spring actually arrived on schedule on March 20.
It’s been a long, wearying winter, and in that sense, it seems quite fitting as a parallel to the long, endless, wearying conflict in the Middle East. The names of the countries change, and so do the names of the despotic leaders, but the fighting, the deaths, and the turmoil are becoming so predictable.
Is it always to be winter when it comes to world peace? I grew up with parents who survived the Korean War; I wrote a letter as a 7-year-old to “Mr. Vietnam” whom I confused for President Lyndon Johnson, begging him to stop the war; in school I learned that the Soviet Union was the enemy, and then later in my life, I found out Russia was our friend; the Berlin Wall came down, new countries were born, new threats emerged, old enemies resurfaced with new agendas –– Albania, North Korea –– and then new enemies emerged with old agendas –– shadowy terrorists with a hatred of America and its values –– Egypt erupted and now we are engaged in yet another conflict with yet another madman, this time in Libya. Is it any surprise that the winter of 2011 has dragged on to overshadow the green shoots of April struggling to rise?
Focusing only on winter and the world is enough to spiral one down into a deep-rooted funk, so at this end of town, we are trying to turn our attention to happy spring thoughts. In Plainsboro, it’s not just the living things that are growing; the new hospital is getting more polished by the day, and when our town becomes a nationally recognized center for healthcare, it will be a proud day indeed. There’s a medical offices building sprouting next door to the gleaming new library, and the nearby shops and restaurants are buzzing.
The Italian-Mediterranean food at Positano and the Asian fusion selections at East Asian Fusion are mouth-watering. How lucky are we that we have not only one but two fabulous coffee shops right on our version of Main Street that boast hand-made treats baked on premises? We chose to settle in Plainsboro, as most people do, because of the stellar reputation of the schools and its proximity to the train station, but now we have world-class amenities that make the quality of life in this town pretty hard to beat.
I have to confess that a couple of years ago, we were counting our days in this town as numbered — the taxes were going too high too fast –– and we even put the house on the market for a time. But fast forward from 2008 to 2011, and I can feel the anticipation building for everything good that is going on here, and how this town will be a magnet for people and business.
One thing that does gall me is how people and businesses try to maximize the cachet of the Princeton name. It’s understandable, given that Princeton is a top-notch university and the town itself is charming. But do we really have to call it the Princeton Junction train station at West Windsor? And the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro? I know that Dr. House of TV fame approves of the moniker, but it’s quite a mouthful, difficult to say quickly, and certainly not fun to write out.
But moving back to more springtime joy: there’s also been nothing better to chase away the gloom of this winter than watching our talented students command the stage at the recent spring musicals. I am sure that “Guys and Dolls” at High School South was marvelous and I’m sorry I missed it. But I can rave about the amazing, sparkling performances by the thespians in North’s production of “Beauty and the Beast.” I truly can say I knew some of the stars way back when. Our schools may be renowned for their academics, but I think it’s time to add Broadway-caliber musical talent to the hit parade.
And there was Community Middle School’s production of Willy Wonka. I saw it come together from rehearsal to performance, and the efforts of Mrs. Conover and Mrs. Whearty were unsurpassed, especially when it came to coaxing the best efforts out of their cast and crew. Wow, Willy Wonka!
Want another reason to celebrate spring? It means baseball and lacrosse are in full swing, and opening day for both Cranbury Plainsboro Little League and Lightning Lacrosse happens Saturday, April 2. That means we get to watch Will play, and I get to catch up with my friends in the bleachers.
I’ve made a 180 degree turn from the doom and gloom at the beginning of this essay. It’s easy to despair at everything that’s going badly in the world. But in the words of that upbeat and honest Charlie and his dad, you have to “Think Positive” and count the blessings all around you. For me, that means my community, my family, and all the dedicated coaches and talented children in this wonderful town.
