Spring is in the air! In the Catskills, we don't always get to say that in early-to-mid May as those April showers sometimes linger.

But for two straight weekend days, it surely felt like spring.

Democrat staff traveling around the county found main streets packed with cars in Narrowsburg and Callicoon, as well as lines outside for ice cream in Liberty.

We were also at Bethel Woods on Saturday as SUNY Sullivan graduates celebrated their day on the hallowed Woodstock grounds, and at the ribbon cuttings of multiple businesses in the Greater Jeffersonville area.

A year ago these special occasions seemed out of reach. Understandably we were all being extra careful in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.

But as more and more people get vaccinated and we inch closer towards achieving herd immunity, you're seeing a slow return to the days we so dearly missed. This comes with even greater appreciation now that we know how it feels to go without it.

For some a return to normalcy means taking trips to NYC, joining friends at local breweries and restaurants, or planning a BBQ.

And for many of us, the greatest joy has come from being able to hug loved ones for the first time in awhile.

It's been wonderful seeing photos of these moments while safely gathering with friends or their social media accounts.

As time passes, we will see even more of them.

While assimilating back to some of our pre-pandemic activities, we hope you'll also continue some of the traditions developed over the past year.

This includes the time in nature. We're blessed to live in a very beautiful place with scenic trails of all difficulty levels, whether you like hiking, bike riding, running, etc.

No matter what activities you choose, it's important to follow CDC guidelines and continue to exercise caution.

When it comes to defeating the virus once and for all, as Dr. Phil likes to say about life, it's “a marathon and not a sprint.”

We can take solace, however, in the fact that for the first time in a long time, it feels like we're on the back end of that race.