Shine

April 13, 2006 at 12:01 PM

Oh yes, it is that time. Moonlight insomnia? Perhaps, partially. But actually, it’s not the moon this time that has me up. Rubbing my hands together, sitting on a mass of stored energy that’s welling up in my gut, I won’t sleep now because I’m excited.

I’m excited because right now, I own more hours of daylight than the folks in the Lower 48. We’ve been saving all winter for this, and now the dividends are about to pay off. Yes, my yard is still a massive snow drift, and it looks like the ice on the lake will be going out about two weeks later this year, but I know what happens next, and I can’t wait.

Hello sun! God was good to make you. Awaken the bears, thaw the ice, return the loons, and fill us all with green! That green... did I mention, there is a particular shade of green that only happens right here? It’s the exact same shade as magic. See, when the light gets this way, things grow and change at astonishing rates. I am about to witness nine months of seasons all squished into four, and the enthusiasm with which the earth thrives during this period is like nothing else I’ve experienced anywhere else in the world.

After breakup, the midnight sun drives the soul forward a lot like a full moon provokes lunacy. It zaps people with a solar power surge, and they get all antsy, running about trying to collect and save time like squirrels hoard mushrooms in the fall. Even in basking lazily on a nice day at the coffee shop, I get a heightened sense of awareness of the here-and-now and its precious value to me; every color, taste, and scent is more full-bodied and intense. It’s a high, for sure. It won’t last, but it shouldn’t, either. You have to pay a price to get such an experience; summer needs the stark contrast of the long winter in order to be most effective.

I’m probably doing myself harm in getting worked up so soon. We have to see the end of breakup, yet.

From Donna Clegg
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 1:33 PM

You are a great writer. Enjoy your Spring Fever!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 4:48 PM

How many hours of daylight do you have? Are you far enough north to have midnight sun? I enjoyed reading your blog. You are part of the grand energy cycle of this world and beyond.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 8:40 PM

Pauline, today it's 14 hours and 28 minutes from sunrise to sunset, with 16 hours of daylight, gaining 5 and a half minutes a day.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 8:44 PM

Holy cow, I just saw that it's 92 degrees in my home town, Tulsa.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 8:52 PM

Wow, what a cool, surreal place you live in. Nice writing, too!

From Mellisa Nill
Posted on April 13, 2006 at 9:16 PM

Emily,
Come now, you're forgetting to mention that it actually SNOWED yesterday!

Yes, you can have your dreams (and don't we all!) but please don't jump the gun! You may trigger another snowfall...and Lord knows we don't need that!

:) Mellisa

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 14, 2006 at 4:53 AM

Emily, are you far enough north to have 24 hours of sunlight or 24 hours of darkness at some times of year? As the Beatles said, "Here comes the sun, and I say it's all right."

From Emily Grossman
Posted on April 14, 2006 at 5:16 AM

The arctic circle is north of me. At the longest day, we see twilight at the darkest point, and 20 hours of sunlight. For about three months, there are no stars. At the darkest, we see four hours of sunlight and about six hours total daylight, including twilight. And for about three months, the sun doesn't quite clear the trees.

From Gabriel Kastelle
Posted on April 17, 2006 at 6:32 AM

You're forgetting to factor in the hours eclipse caused by the clouds of mosquitoes...

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Shine

Subscribe

Laurie's Books