Before I get into my thoughts about summer solstice, I want to tell you a funny Addie story.
Yesterday we were sitting and eating breakfast. Addie can be so dramatic . . I guess most little girls can be.
Vince mentioned that “tomorrow is Father’s Day”. Addie said “Oh, that means it’s also the first day of summer!” I said “I don’t know about that” because I thought it was sometimes on the 21st and sometimes on the 22nd but I guess I was wrong.
Addie said “No. Father’s Day and the first day of summer are the same because in second grade (this past school year), we had to write in our journals and one day the teacher was talking and I was looking ahead in the journal and I saw Father’s Day on the calendar and the same day said First Day of Summer!”
I got my phone, looked at it and she was right. How did she remember that? I would not have remembered that.
Back to Summer Solstice – I did tell Addie that today is the longest day of the year and she said that wasn’t on her calendar. 🙂
Summer Solstice is one of my favorite days. The days are now going to start getting shorter. I’m sure there was a time when I liked summer more than I like it now but to me, longer days just mean heat, heat and more heat. It’s kinda crazy that the time of year when we have the most work to do outside is also the time of year when it’s most miserable. With so much to do outside, we do a bit in the morning and then finish up in the evening after it cools off a bit, which means we’re outside working til dark. Once the days get shorter, we come in sooner, take our showers sooner and can relax sooner.
During the winter when I was here alone, I was getting kinda tired of so much darkness and having to take Rita out so many times after dark, and Vince was sick in Texas and, for some reason, after dark is when I’d get more upset than during the day, and I wondered if I was going to start liking the longer days better. Nope. I’m in the minority and I understand it’s hard on folks who work and people with kids who have after school activities but I love it when it’s dark before 5 p.m.
So . . the longer days are slowly, ever so slowly, getting shorter.
I am aware that lots of places say June 21 is Summer Solstice. I think it happens tonight around midnight. I’m saying June 20 . . so let’s get it done as quickly as possible. 🙂
Donna Williams says
Fall, Autumn, whatever is my favorite season. Except for tomato season. In my world there is a tomato season, and I believe it’s the only good reason for way too hot season. I’m with you on days getting shorter. As long as there are enough days for tomatoes. I may have a tomato problem, but I’m good with it. 😉
Rebecca says
Summer solstice was at 8:31 pm PDT, so it was 3:31 UTC (Greenwich time), making it “officially” the 21st.
Addie’s going to be disappointed when Father’s Day doesn’t fall on the first day of summer, since it’s on a specific Sunday, not June 20 or 21. Ah, she may forget by then.
montanaclarks says
I’m with you Judy, I could do without summer!
Joyce says
I’m a summer girl, so I’m sad when the days start getting shorter. I absolutely hate the short days of winter. I don’t like leaving work in the dark, especially when I have things to do before I go home.
Judy Laquidara says
I can see that and I didn’t like the short days either when I worked and Chad had games and practice after work or we would leave on Friday afternoon to drive to the lake for the weekend . . I loved the longer days too but now . . dark outside means being inside where it’s comfy and I’m knitting or stitching.
Carolyn says
I always felt bad for my mother…my birthday is tomorrow and I was born at 5:30am. Talk about making the longest days of the year even longer! LOL
Nelle Coursey says
I always thought it was the 21st also!