NEW SEASONS by MIMI MONTGOMERY
S
SO – IT’S SPRING, THE START OF A NEW SEASON, ONCE-DORMANT LIFE NOW re-germinating in earnest, blinding calves emerging from shorts with startling enthusiasm. Whether you be flora or human, it’s hard not to to be joyful while wiggling in the sun after a long winter. And a long winter it was. No matter your beliefs, creeds, or inclinations, 2016 was a bit of a doozy – even if you didn’t own a Samsung Galaxy. Hurricane Matthew, the Panthers’ Super Bowl performance, that never-ending construction on Hillsborough Street – the year was not without its struggles. And I didn’t even mention politics, or that my grocery store stopped selling my favorite flavor of LaCroix. When times get tough, it makes me glad to be a part of our little corner of the South. Raleigh is a blend of the best of the old and new guard – Southern in its heritage, manners, and love of families and lore; outward-looking in its progression, tolerance, and innovation. Plus, people are, for the most part, just genuinely kind. It’s comforting to know that people will be polite to you even when things are tough. At the very least, they’ll
102 | WALTER
Eyecandy Images/Thinkstock
UNOAKED
