Editor’s Letter James

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“You’re in Chesapeake country now!” I yelled with a sly grin over cheers and hollers to my buddy who was witnessing his first sock burning Godknows-how-many-years ago. Could have been 15 or so. It’s an annual rite of Spring in Annapolis and, now, at many more harbors regionwide; doffing one’s socks and tossing them into a bonfire while quaffing schwills of heady beer and slurping fresh-shucked oysters. Welcoming boating season…Spring…in a most jovial way. It’s one of the many quirky and unique traditions that locals have come to love this time of year.

Seems to me, the month of March ushers in the year’s first consistent rush of celebrations: the aforementioned; the Spring Equinox; St. Patrick’s Day of course, Women’s History Month; NCAA March Madness basketball, and events…lots of events. After our winter hibernation, do we ever come out of the woodwork! And this issue of What’s Up? Eastern Shore highlights a number of them: speaking events, a film festival, home and garden shows, bull and oyster roasts, wildlife festivals, culinary festivals…festival this, festival that. The time is nigh to get outside and celebrate community many times over.

Beyond all this fun and celebration, there’s also work to be done. Like it or lump it, we all know it. With Spring comes cleaning, indoors and out (heck, there’s even a decluttering seminar in this month’s calendar). There’s a big focus on organizing our homes and, in turn, our lives. I know when I push on through a day of cleaning or yardwork, somehow my entire livelihood feels more at peace (if only until the kids and dog undo it all). This issue has a batch of home and garden ideas—from interior design trends to revealing signs that you may be ready for an inground

pool—to keep the dream alive of a more fulfilling and enjoyable living space. Our health and beauty section piggy-backs this theme (and even considers the secret benefits of a good beer— perhaps best enjoyed after all that home-work).

James Houck, Editorial Director Often, I can be seen on my back deck in the mornings and evenings, coffee in hand in the a.m. or maybe a cold one at night, looking over the railing into the yard, the trees, the neighborhood…all the while pondering the space that I call home. “What can I do to improve it?” is a question I find myself asking over and over again. And what’s funny is that, when you think about it…what we do on the home-front becomes an extension of what we enjoy and how we are, beyond the front door. So, as I rev myself up to rake the yard clean, prep the mower for it’s first run, and draw out landscaping plans—knowing full-well I’ll utter more than a few curse words during it all—I’ll take comfort that this is a means toward a satisfying end. To enjoy the Spring season at home with a peace of mind that, in turn, frees me up to get out there and enjoy the best that our community has to offer…events, friends, camaraderie, the riches of Chesapeake Bay living…and all of it sans socks, finally.

Letters to What’s Up?

Dear What’s Up?, I want to thank you for such a great January edition of Eastern Shore Magazine. I really enjoyed the well written, engaging and educational articles in the magazine. I especially enjoyed the Year of the Woman: Sirens Call (I never knew that passage of the amendment for a woman to vote came down to one vote in one State!), “Striving for 100” (what inspirational women, we can all learn from) and Disappearing Act (well written explanation about the fate of the Chesapeake Islands). I’m looking forward to the next edition and more information about Women Suffrage- it’s amazing how little is taught in schools about it. Thanks for your good work- we are all a little better for it.

—Lynn Mayo, Chestertown

Thank you Lynn Mayo for your kind words!