Useppa Celebrates

The Spring is filled with cultural and religious celebrations honoring new beginnings, often tinged with a sense of the surreal.  Particularly after this long winter, who wasn’t  looking forward to the promise of a new start? And yes, we in southwest Florida, were not battling the March snows, now famously visiting the northeast like the weekly plague, but we did have a flu season that knocked out about two-thirds of the Island for weeks at a time. So when the occasions arrived, Useppans were out in full force!

First up - Saint Patrick’s Day.  With a Grand Martial leading our own fire truck (one of two) and over a dozen ingeniously decorated golf carts, no one misses those  oversized  balloons anyone can see on TV. And, of course, we have prizes - lots of prizes -  as well as genuine leprechauns!

However it is the ecumenical Easter sunrise service, now in its 20th year, that is truly Useppa magic. This weekend tops any other in terms of people on Island.   It begins with the questionable privilege of  arriving before dawn to participate in a morning of thoughtful community reflection, music and readings as the sun arrives, carefully timed, with the first speaker.  The newest participant in 2018 was less then 2 weeks old and represented the third generation of her Carmichael family here.   

This year our opening greeting was from Allen Symonds, a Jewish resident, who reminds us of our shared heritage. And for the first time, Mr Steve Kaufman opted  to attend  and see what all of the fuss was about.  We think he enjoyed it, although surely the suggestion that blueberry muffins accompany  hot-cross buns is a memo being composed for the suggestion box.   

Winter is the obvious time to make a southern visit - but those in the know “think Spring”. You won’t be disappointed.