There’s something about the smell of spring that changes my mood. When I look outside and see the fresh cut green grass and blue skies, I can’t help but feel happy. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the seasons, and our amazing state has so many opportunities to stay active in the winter. My own family just put away their skis and snowboard for the season, but for me, spring is different, almost an awakening of sorts.

This winter was different of course, with COVID-19 still looming, it was marred by outbreaks and cancellations, all while we tried to find a balance of sanity and safety. Spring seems to be looking up however, with Mainers getting vaccinated. Governor Janet Mills recently lifted the restriction for wearing masks in an outdoor setting, though Maine CDC recommends that people wear face coverings in outdoor settings where it is difficult to maintain an appropriate physical distance. With over one million Mainers having had their first dose of the vaccine and over 500,000 having their final, Maine seems to be on an upswing to a new normal.

Sports, it seems, is returning to “normal” as well. Student athletes are able to have their sports seasons, and parents are excitedly posting photos of being at the game watching their children play. While protocols are still in place for safety, it feels good to see these athletes out doing what they love and working toward their goals.

For me personally, spring always means getting back outside. On a beautiful day a few weeks ago, my son Seth asked me to play catch. When he was young, it was the surest sign of spring; we would head out even when there was snow on the ground to have a quick game of pass. While we were both a bit rusty, soon the cobwebs were gone and our aim got better. It’s a tradition I will miss when he graduates from college and moves out on his own, but I always tell myself, anytime he asks I will always play.

Last spring, as the pandemic set in and we were seemingly stuck inside, like many others, I looked for opportunities to get outside while social distancing. I was able to go on a few hikes and create new traditions with my cousin Paige. For those looking to hit a trail, the AllTrails App is a great resource to find hikes in your area or another part of the state. What I liked most about this app is it logs your stats, it has reviews of hikes, it stores your photos from each trip and you can connect with friends. Personally, I found the reviews incredibly helpful because as dense as the Maine wilderness is, it gave us tips on directions and how hard the hike was, as well as amenities around the area.

Another tradition for Seth and me is going to the Red Sox and New England Patriots games; yet another thing that came to a screeching halt because of COVID-19. For those of us in New England, we were not able to go to any professional sports games last year as no fans were allowed in the stadiums. While we were able to watch them on television, we missed the live game experience, it just wasn’t the same.

Fortunately, the Red Sox are offering limited seating in Fenway and Seth and I were able to go to a game recently. When you are used to over 37,000 fans at a game, it was very strange to be there with only about 3,500 people (that number was recently increased to 9,400). Despite that, we were so happy to be there, enjoying the game we love. Like the Portland Sea Dogs locally, we had to wear masks unless we were actively eating or drinking, and for us that night, the masks actually kept us warm during our April game! It was the smallest sacrifice to be able to hear those words “Play ball!”, and getting out of Boston and home in less than two hours was a bonus.

Finally, I wanted to remind our residents of the new Gorham Outdoors group. They will be organizing many activities this spring and summer and I encourage you to check their Facebook page for updates. This family friendly group has been working hard to come up with fun activities for Gorham