Editorial
May Adventures Deval (Reshma) Paranjpe, MD, MBA, FACS
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fter what seems like an eternity, sunshine and good weather have returned to our area. You can see the smiles and the energy returning to people’s faces. It’s as though a giant weight has been lifted. Half the patients I’ve seen this week have been dressed for August in the tropics, and so it’s been a glorious state of affairs in my windowless office. Linen, paradise prints, sandals, parrot earrings, sunglasses, and straw hats have all made appearances. My heart is lighter too. Sunshine and warm weather means that I can feel better about seeing friends again since dining outdoors is now an easier option. Gardening season has started suddenly. I’ve put all my plants out on the deck where they will begin to thrive again after a long winter indoors. I can almost hear their sighs of relief as I water them and their leaves unfurl against the sunlight. I can almost see their anemic leaves getting greener. The immense satisfaction of seeing them bring forth bud, flower and fruit is only weeks away. Moods are better, conversation brighter, and people more agreeable under blue skies, cool breezes and spring sunlight. Many of us haven’t been on a vacation in years, and this feels like one without leaving home. Put away the winter coats; bring on the lemonade and light lunches.
ACMS Bulletin / May 2022
I remember the Ray Bradbury story “All Summer in a Day,” and that’s exactly what it feels like. I feel the urge to enjoy these few months of beautiful climes to their maximum, so that the memory may sustain me through another cold winter to come. So, I asked myself: how do we make the most of this? The obvious answer is traveling and getting away from familiar surroundings. If you are (rightfully) worried about getting on a plane at this time and going to somewhere Covid-y, where can you go to enjoy yourself within driving distance? (By the way, that’s apparently become a new term---Covid-y. As in, “I don’t want to get in that crowded line; it’s too Covid-y,” or “An indoor unmasked party for 200 in the middle of this surge? Nah, I’ll pass; it just feels too Covid-y”, or “That guy? He’s a complete social butterfly, and he never wears a mask. I’d rather not sit next to him at dinner—he just seems Covid-y”). Avast, pandemic! Here are some wonderful nearby outdoor places with plenty of social distance, ventilation, and fresh air in which to explore and make hay while the sun shines. Of course, the amenities at Nemacolin Resort and Omni Bedford Springs Resort are also lovely nearby options, but I wanted to take you a bit farther afield for this column.
1) Presque Isle State Park About a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh, Presque Isle has 11 miles of clean sandy beaches and offers boating, fishing, birdwatching, swimming, hiking and general relaxation complete with concert areas, a picturesque lighthouse dating from 1873, lagoons and an environmental center. Camping available nearby. It feels like the seashore, though you’re not on the ocean, and it doesn’t feel crowded. 2) Erie Waterfront Enjoy outdoor waterfront dining at restaurants like the Bayfront Grille (55 W Bay Road, in Sheraton Erie), Rum Runners (133 E Dobbins Landing), and the eccentrically named Sloppy Duck Saloon (726 W Bayfront Parkway), or Smuggler’s Wharf (3 State Street). It’s a quick getaway, only about two hours from Pittsburgh, but well worth the feeling of being by the sea. A great day trip. And check out the Lake Erie Tall Ships Festival, which returns to the Erie Waterfront this August 25-28. Explore beautiful working tall sailing ships of old for a small taste of history and a Pirates of the Caribbean feeling. Continued on Page 6
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