Hold on, summer – not so fast, please! You owe us extra time from your theft of 2020. We have just become used to, although not happy about, Thursday being the new Friday with respect to traffic on Route 1 between Lewes and Dewey, reservations needed for weekday dinners at some of our popular eateries, and the shortage of employees almost everywhere, even McDonald’s. Even though the wait may have been a bit longer wherever we chose to dine, the food at the beach was still fine by me. We sort of overlooked the price of gasoline for our automobiles and pickup trucks since such had been predicted, but we were not exactly ready to wait for a pump at Royal Farms or Wawa. It seems as though we have happily accepted both the pricing and the waiting, so, good for us.
The beautiful reality was enjoying once again so much of our region which we lost or neglected last year. For example, how about those fireworks at both Lewes and Rehoboth, and, of course, Lewes’ unique Doo-Dah Parade! Our regular visits to beaches and pools and gyms, absent from our 2020 activities, and dare I mention Funland!
The outlets seemed to be thriving too, at least judging by the number of vehicles in the parking lots, and Walmart – well, that’s a story in itself. Despite a complaint here about this and a criticism there about that, orange barriers on Rehoboth Avenue, and our favorite Sysco truck double parked, we have welcomed back the Cape Region with open arms and wallets and baby strollers. Even the state park had to close early on more occasions than usual! Bravo, Henlopen, you came back!
The trick now is to preserve and extend as much of our joy and entertainment as possible, so September continues rather than ends the experience. Our fingers are crossed that we are not sidetracked by the current variant or even another variant. We have expectations for our fall events, also absent in 2020. The days are moving more quickly than we would like, but each day is very precious, as we keep our eyes open for weather conditions which might affect wind or water.
To return to the traffic reference made earlier, we should have been welcoming our weekly visitors and everything which they bring to the Cape Region in those automobiles. Keep in mind that long lines wherever mean greater revenues however, and our merchants and restaurateurs are certainly appreciative of that.
Let us not forget about the drama and concert offerings available this summer and fall, also absent from last year, and I would be remiss for so many reasons if I did not mention the Delaware Botanic Gardens in Dagsboro, just a short drive south and west of the Miracle Mile. With apologies to those persons and places not specifically mentioned herein, allow me to extol the hundreds of indoor and outdoor possibilities available to us locals and our guests as the weeks of summer have passed by, perhaps a little too quickly.
The great news is, not only can we continue to enjoy the sights and sounds and surroundings; we can also appreciate one another. This, I feel, is our greatest gift – the return of humanity to the Cape Region, now that we can see and touch one another once more. It is easier to be human if there is sight and contact without that video square surrounding each of us. Yes, care must still be taken as we interact one with the other, but we have been given the gift of the vaccine and common sense.
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Peter E. Carter is a former public school administrator who has served communities in three states as a principal, and district and county superintendent, for 35-plus years. He is a board member for Delaware Botanic Gardens and Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, and the author of a dual autobiography, “A Black First…the Blackness Continues.”
