Damian has not been happy about winter. Not because of the cold. (What cold? We live in Los Angeles. Sixty degrees is considered cold here.) No, he hates winter because it gets dark early. Which means he can’t play outside. It also means, with his busy schedule, that we often get home after dark, which makes him feel like he’s lost the afternoon and can’t play before dinner. He’s indignant about the whole thing, keeps telling me he wants it to be summer, he thinks summer is much better, he hates winter, winter should be over already, he’s tired of winter.
He told me yesterday he wants to move somewhere where it’s always summer. I told him that’s impossible. I guess at the equator they always enjoy equal chunks of day and night, but this little boy wants lots of day, little night. He then decided he wanted all day and no night. So I guess our next house should be at the South Pole. At least, from September to March. We can have another cottage at the North Pole for our second summer, split the year between the two. I wonder if the cold would be acceptable as long as he gets his eternal day?
This evening I told him today was the winter solstice and from here on out the days will get gradually longer. He lit up like a small sun himself, almost bright enough to light the early night. I warned him it was only by minute or so each day, but he said, still beaming, that this time it would happen faster.
Maybe so, kid. Maybe so.
Happy Winter Solstice, and to all a good (long) night.
Posted by Tamar at December 21, 2003 09:42 PMTell Damian he's not the only one. I don't know what it is about this winter, but this coming home every night in the dark is getting old, and I'm looking forward to when we'll finally have some daylight left to 'play'!
Posted by: Jenipurr at December 21, 2003 10:03 PMIndeed, this is one of my favorite days of the year. Blessed lengthening of days, I embrace your return!
Posted by: Dreama at December 21, 2003 10:14 PM