Winter Solstice. The first day of winter, the day when the sun spends the least amount of time above the horizon. The longest night of the year. Well, while some neo-pseudo-druids will be cavorting around the Stonehenge site I’ll spend today reveling in the joys of the season. I’ll watch some more of my favorite seasonal movies, eat some more Christmas cookies and try to work off the calories with some exercise. Camera Girl is devilishly busy with her preparations for the Christmas feast and I am more or less nothing but a hindrance to her at this point. I ask if I can help and just get scowls of contempt for what she considers hollow offers. Maybe I can carry some heavy pots of soup or sides of meat downstairs. But other than those few things I’m essentially of no use to her. Well, what can I say? God has divided us, quite wisely, into men and women and along those same lines he has provided or withheld various talents to the members of the human race. And like the fabulous ant and grasshopper of Aesop some of us toil and are productive and others of us feast and sing. I am cursed to be among this latter group. And Camera Girl is solidly in the former category. Such is life.
It’s bright daylight today. I intend to walk around in the woods and snap a photo or two of whatever strikes my eye. If tonight is as clear I must take a walkaround in the starlight and enjoy a sight of the winter constellations on this longest night. In fact, the moon is on the next to last night before New Moon so viewing the sky will be almost optimal. Orion will be about 45 degrees above the horizon at about 11 pm and that’s when I’ll take a wander outside. The forecast is for mostly clear skies and 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Sounds pretty good for late December in New England.
The world diverges into two contrasting pictures. When I hear what is going on in the wide world it is a ghastly disaster. Evil men run just about everything there is to control. Joe Biden is a symbol for a world collapsing into decay. But when I look at my personal world, I see good things all around me. Good people are working hard to improve the lives of their families and displaying wonderful qualities of self-sacrifice and industriousness. I see youngsters working hard at their studies and displaying intelligence and good will. So, it’s a paradox. How can so much good exist in a world that has embraced nihilism and irrational goals? And I must say I haven’t an answer. But I will celebrate the good and hope for the future no matter how bleak the big picture seems to be.
So, I’ll go out today and take the optimistic approach. From here on in the hours of daylight will be increasing and the New Year comes with the ever-renewed hope that the world will come to its senses. That’s good enough for today.
Did you take the picture of that nice weather in your backyard?
The picture is slightly out of date. All of that snow has melted. And we’re expecting snow and then rain even before Christmas Eve. Everything in New England is a snap shot. I was trying to capture the idea of Winter Solstice around here. It seemed about right as I was searching for a photo.
Thanks. And your picture conveyed the message very well.
You’re more than welcome. Merry Christmas Neil.