Solstice

Day 69: We're turning the corner. The nights may be colder for a month or so, but daylight is stretching its fingers into the darkness of morning and evening. As a morning person, I am always up well before the sun, having my first cup of coffee sometimes three hours before it's time to throw back the drapes. In summer, I often rise even earlier per the clock, to enjoy the quiet time before the sun climbs above the limb of the world. However, the tail of the day arrives far too soon in winter, and I find myself  checking to see if it's time for bed at 3:30 PM when old Sol has sunk behind the tall Douglas-firs to the west of me and the sky has begun to dim. Although I will not consciously be aware of each additional second in the days following Solstice until a week has passed, I know that my mood will begin to lift with each one. Celebrate the Solstice with me: Dance the Holly! Dance the Mistletoe! The Light is now returning, and dark nights swiftly go!