Beyond the South End

Spring Fever…Fact or Myth?

Has anyone accused you of having spring fever or laughed at you when you said you were suffering from that ailment? Well, there may be reasons for developing the malady that ring true. Some research brought these possible reasons for Spring Fever.

In a Fox News story called “Spring Fever 101” they describe spring fever as “an onset of physiological symptoms associated with the arrival of spring. Its symptoms include a flushed face, increased heart rate, restlessness, daydreaming, and an increase in sexual appetite.”

Have you ever known a teenager who didn’t suffer from the above?

What causes Spring Fever?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real for those people who live in a cold, dark climate for an extended period of time. I have a friend in Alaska who suffers from it. It may also play a part in what is known as Spring Fever. The symptoms may include dizziness, irritability, headaches, aching joints and a lack of drive.

Wikipedia sees the causes as hormonal imbalance and the body’s reserve of the “happiness hormone” serotonin, whose production depends on daylight, which is exhausted earlier in the winter in the northern regions. At such times the “sleep hormone” melatonin takes over. As the days become longer in the springtime, the body readjusts its hormone levels and more endorphin, testosterone and estrogen are released, which puts a heavy strain on the body, resulting in a feeling of tiredness.

We become friskier in the spring when we are able to get out-of-doors and get some exercise. The sunshine gives us an immediate lift in mood and we experience an increase in endorphins or “the feel-good” hormone.

Not everyone agrees with the Spring Fever phenomena. Thomas Szasz, a well-known psychiatrist, who was Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at State University of New York, was a critic of social control aims of medicine and of scientism. He said. “Spring fever all you have to know is English. Spring fever is not a disease.” What he meant by that first sentence I don’t know, but it’s clear he thought Spring Fever was a lot of hooey.

I can attest to that feel good feeling as a young teen attending South School. I remember many happy days of recess chasing members of the opposite sex up and down the grass laden fields back of the school. We always hated going back inside during May and as the end of the school year approached we all became restless and I’m afraid less attentive to our studies. Our teachers had to threaten us with this phrase, “remember what you do here in this class becomes a part of your permanent record,” meaning pay attention or else you’ll regret it later on.

Going on Spring Break

How many of you have had a memorable Spring Break experience? Let me tell you about mine.

As a young teacher who lived with other young teachers in the 60s I became part of a group of five teachers who took off for Florida and South Beach, Miami in a small car during Spring Break. All of us were educated in the Maine teacher’s college system and none of us could ever afford to take off for Florida for Spring Break when we were going to school. We set out to correct that deficiency in our life experience to that point.

 I don’t know why they call it Spring Break when it actually occurs in February. Isn’t that still winter? In any event, we longed for the sun; for the opportunity to wear nothing but a bathing suit; and the deliciousness of lying out on a beach somewhere. Why we didn’t just go to the beaches of Northern Florida like Daytona or even Jacksonville, I don’t know. We had a limited amount of time to get there; enjoy the sun; and get back to our teaching jobs in Connecticut. But we were young and foolish I guess.

It was a cramped ride with three of us in the back and two in the front. We swapped around often but it was still a very long ride. When we finally got to South Beach, sans any kind of motel reservation, we were pretty tired. We ended up sleeping in the car the best we could down by the beach.

The next day we got stopped by a patrol car because we were weaving down the main drag not knowing where we were going. He was sympathetic to our cause and directed us to a motel down the road. We were very thankful.

We all piled in to the same room and some of us slept on cots so we could save money. As I remember it, it rained a lot and we started getting on each other’s nerves. We managed to have somewhat of a good time though in spite of the weather, but it sure was a long ride back to Connecticut.

Elvis and Spring Break

As I was researching this story I came across a video of an Elvis movie called “Girl Happy” from 1965. It would have been about the same time as my trip with the girls to Florida. His co-star was Shelley Fabares. We didn’t have these nice convertibles like the ones in this video that’s for sure. Notice Gary Crosby, Bing’s son, in the back seat of Elvis’ car. I think they all had more fun than we did. This video was his first green screen test. Enjoy.

Here are the lyrics if you want to sing along:

Spring Fever

A little bird, he told me so, he said come on, get on the go

Open your eyes the sky is full of butterflies

The blossoms on the trees stir up the honey bees

Spring makes my fever right

Spring fever, Spring is here at last

Spring fever, my heart's beating fast

Get up, get out spring is everywhere

Well if you feel the wanderlust, just grab a car or hop a bus

In every town there's excitement to be found

So much is happening, don't miss the joy of spring

The world's in love just look around

Spring fever comes to everyone

Spring fever, it's time for fun

Get up, get out spring is everywhere

Spring fever, it's Spring fever time

Spring fever, watch that fever climb

Get up, get out spring is everywhere

Spring is everywhere

 

 

 

 

Georgia Spring

We don’t get Spring Fever, if it even exists, very much down here in Georgia. We don’t get SAD. Our winters are mild and our hours of sunlight are longer, or at least it seems that way. If we even get flurries in the winter it is headline news and all you hear about all day long.

Spring comes early here and while your fifth season up north is the “mud season,” here in the south our fifth season is the “pollen season.” After all the flowering trees are in bloom, summer comes upon us pretty darn fast; so much so that we wonder where our spring went.

Whereas I don’t have to worry about Spring Fever, I have to figure out how to endure Cabin Fever while I recuperate from knee surgery at the end of this week up here in my apartment at the top of the stairs. Oh well, at least I have a balcony to sit out on. I hope we get some sun.

Enjoy your spring and thanks for listening.