Turn, turn, turn

It’s that rarest and most beautiful time of year, when July is full and ripe and high summer reigns in the Upper Delaware River valley.

It is easy to become lost in worry: about gas prices, the price of food, education, clothing, heat; we wonder what will become of our families, our futures. Will we have a job? Can we support our children? Can they support themselves? We fear that our beautiful region will become less than pristine. The trout will die from waters that are too warm, flooding will come again, the infrastructure will fail, the needs of the big city will surely overwhelm our own. We watch as our community becomes divided over gas drilling. Our leaders do not lead or protect us. Our country is at war. Our schools struggle with budgetary and structural concerns. The coming winter is sure to be hard. And yet… and yet…

“To everything, there is a season. Turn, turn, turn.”

So recorded Pete Seeger in 1962. The lyrics, taken from the Ecclesiastics verses of the King James Version of the Bible, reminds us that darkness cannot exist without light (and vice versa), and which wolf (dark or light) becomes bigger and more powerful depends on which one you feed. There are multiple bounties coming to bear right this second in our backyard. High summer brings a plethora of cultural events and this weekend alone, we can choose between The King and I at the Forestburgh Playhouse, open studio tours sponsored by the Wayne County Arts Alliance, Divas on the Delaware sponsored by the Delaware Valley Opera, a silk painting workshop sponsored by the Wayne County Arts Alliance, concerts at Weekend of Chamber Music and Bethel Woods, a film with music at the Catskill Arts Society, art openings and poetry readings at galleries scattered throughout the valley and, of course, that iconic mid-summer event, RiverFest.

The whole world is emerald green, and there are many ways to enhance the spirit just by stepping outside, taking a walk, a bike ride or swim. Gardens are in their glory, and tending your own or supporting your local farmer will bring richness to your table. (If you are in a slow food sort of mood, check out the garden tour sponsored by the Upper Delaware River Chapter of Slow Food on Sunday, followed by pot luck.) This is not the season to lose faith. It is the season to regain faith by losing ourselves in the moment, giving in to the sensuous joys of good food, good music, flowers, activity and art.

It’s summertime, and the living, while not easy, is pretty good in some ways. We might as well get a little happy, at least while the warm weather holds and the river flows. Otherwise, the green days will pass and be forgotten, with nothing to store in the memory banks. We can worry later. For now, go cool your feet in the river and delight in the bounty that is ours… for free, all summer long.

Also in this issue:

• Where I stand on gas drilling
• The state of the county

Dr. Punnybone

Kidney Bean Failure