Spring has sprung! COVID-19 updates, confronting anti-Asian hatred and more

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March 22, 2021

Cherry Blossoms

Spring has sprung! Did you know you can view the UW cherry blossoms virtually this year to avoid coming to campus due to COVID-19? Click the image above to enjoy the trees in full blossom from the comfort of your home!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Over the weekend, spring officially sprung. I’ve found that with spring, feelings of hope can begin to rise as we shift from the endless gray and dark of the northwest winter and begin to see the light and plants in bloom. It’s hard to believe that this is now our second official springtime in the midst of a global pandemic. But perhaps this spring will bring more hope than the last. I certainly am feeling more hopeful as more and more people are being vaccinated – especially our most vulnerable populations and senior citizens.

For many seniors, it’s been a long year not being able to spend time with family and friends. I can relate, as I haven’t been able to spend quality time with my grandchildren since the onset of COVD let alone even meeting one of them born in Ithaca, New York last September. I encourage you to read this article that appeared in The Seattle Times about the lost year for grandparents during the pandemic and the new hope on the horizon as families are able to connect again and life tries to return to normal.

I’ve often felt discouraged and even demoralized when writing this update to you all reporting the grim numbers about new cases and deaths. But perhaps now we can consider this point in time as the beginning of the end. Next spring this may all just be a memory. And perhaps we can experience spring of 2022 in a whole new light. Which makes me think of hope again and a great quote from E.B White about spring:

“There is another sort of day which needs celebrating in song -- the day of days when spring at last holds up her face to be kissed, deliberate and unabashed. On that day no wind blows either in the hills or in the mind.”

Please note my enews is a little bit shorter today as some of my staff are unfortunately ill.

As always, I would like to hear from you. You can call me at 206-477-1004 or you can reach me by email at jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov.

All the best and I hope you are staying safe.