Home sweet home

What a difference a day makes. Not only am I back in the arms of my (gasp!) new-found valentine, but the spring in my step is also due in part to the faintest hint of spring being literally in the air.

Stepping off the plane, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief. While it was great to see Mom and momentarily escape the last throes of winter doldrums, it was, as anticipated, great to be back in the mountains. For many of us this is the norm, and I find the seasonal changes to be exhilarating, refreshing and most welcome.

Thankfully, this natural process invariably kicks in just when we need it most. I guess Mother Nature really does know best, and for this, I am eternally grateful. Exhausted from the trip, I recovered (to my surprise) very quickly and am excited to be back to the business at hand: life in the Catskills.

There are so many upcoming events ‘round every corner, I can’t help but feel the “thrill of discovery” that always surrounds the arts and entertainment community here in the Upper Delaware Valley. Even though I was away, the internet kept me from feeling lost as I perused the e-mails and press releases concerning the calendar of events taking place in the weeks and months to come.

Hard at work on my Savor the Arts dinner extravaganza, in conjunction with the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance’s ( artsalliancesite.org ) Arts Alive program, I continue to plug away at planning a successful party for the April 10 statewide bash. Wishing I hadn’t missed the Alliance Gallery’s opening reception for Expressions 2010, an exhibit of art created by people with disabilities, I take comfort in knowing that the show runs through March 27 at the gallery on Main Street in Narrowsburg, NY, and plan to hightail it over there at the earliest opportunity.

Fortunately, I did make it home in time to make plans to attend Sullivan West High School’s presentation of the perennial favorite “Grease,” which plays March 12 to 14 in the school’s state-of-the-art theatre. According to the literature, several Janice Center students ( janicecenter.com ) are participating in the show, and I always find the variety of high school musicals throughout the region to be highly entertaining.

It is my humble opinion that these shows are not just for proud parents and family members but for the enjoyment of everyone and, even before seeing it myself, I feel confident in predicting a good time will be had by all. For information regarding the show, visit swcsd.org .

The North American Cultural Laboratory ( nacl.org ) in Highland Lake is also gearing up for the season. With major renovations underway, the NACL is, as always, planning a full roster of stimulating, thought-provoking and entertaining productions. I always enjoy their programs and am excited to see what the company has in store.

I’ve made a mental note to keep an eye on the Upper Delaware Writers Collective, as it is already planning for its second annual Green Heron Poetry Contest. Based on the enormous success of the last, I expect even more writers and poets to jump on the bandwagon and encourage those interested to participate. More information can be found on its web site ( upperdelawarewriterscollective.com ) or by e-mailing greenheron@aol.com.

Being an enthusiastic bibliophile at heart, my own skipped a beat while reading the announcement of “Women Outside: Conversations about Nature, Art & Spirit,” by Mary Olmsted Greene, to be held at the Beaverbrook Cottage, located at 1256 Crystal Lake Road in Narrowsburg, NY on Saturday, April 3.

Food, drink and dancing will follow the reading and book signing. Having participated in other events at the cottage ( beaverbrookcottage.com ), I can guarantee a swell time and have made (yet another) mental note to attend. For information regarding the book itself, visit stockportflats.org/outside.htm .

Wow, man,, so many upcoming events to look forward to, and still haven’t begun to think about the new season at the Forestburgh Playhouse ( fbplayhouse.com ) or the lineup at Bethel Woods ( bethelwoodscenter.org ), both of which promise to have wonderful surprises in store as the months progress.

With the proverbial “spring in my step,” combined with spring in the air, I gleefully anticipate running the gamut of emotions as I traverse the Catskills, always in search of adventure, enlightenment and good old-fashioned fun. Join me, won’t you?