Photos from Quarantine #3: Greener, Warmer … Closer?”

For a state that prides itself on “Live Free or Die,” New Hampshire is pleasantly quiet this weekend.

Elsewhere in the country, I know, there have been protests about ending quarantine, defying authority and stretching the restless muscles. But in my little corner of the country, the warmer temperatures and sunnier skies have just made the grass a little greener, the trees a little fuller and people a little kinder. Feels like maybe we’ve reached a point where soon we can start to be a little more social and a little less distant. Here’s some of what I’ve seen in my walks:

Street sign says it all. This was the theme of the weekend. Sunny and 70 are seasonal gifts in these parts.

Don’t ask me to tell you what these flowers are. I just know I love seeing them emerge from the thawed ground.

Even the empty church is into it. What did the Cowsills sing? “I love the flower girl …”

My youngest child turns eight later this month, and we spend a lot of time looking at the mermaid Playmobil display in this downtown store. Hope to see a reopening soon.

History, meanwhile, has not been put on hold at the local Independence Museum. George Washington may not have slept here, but he’s welcome to browse online.

It’s great to see all the children outside with their parents this weekend. But, again, as the dad of a soon-to-be eight-year-old, I know how much they miss their schools, friends and these important days of social lessons. Nice to see the schools miss them right back.

As we’re heading into what should be prom season and graduations, you can’t help but feel for the high school – and college – seniors who are being deprived of the opportunity to make lifetime memories. The community is supportive, and I know we will do the right thing virtually. But still. I don’t think anyone’s going to look back on these days and wish they spent more time on Zoom.

No complaints here, though. Happy to be here in good health, with nothing but hope for the summer ahead, knowing we’ve done our small part to contain the virus.