The sun will reach its nadir tomorrow, December 21, at 10:27 PM EST, in the northern hemisphere, as we procrastinators will be resting from our last-minute shopping. We begin our 6-month journey back to the fullness of sunlight and the warmth of the summertime in just a few hours.
No wonder we are built for resilience as nature showers her experiences of recovering from the depths of winter’s darkness towards the fullness of summer’s long days like the clock she is in our lives. Even as we attempt to bring more light into our lives with festive Christmas decorations and the lights of the Hannukah menorah, we know that nature’s sunshine brings our most remarkable revival.
At our place on the Allegheny River, we always joke about the sun’s reflection when it is low in the sky. Her reflection on the River brightens and warms our house, leading us to call our home “Two-Suns.” It’s a treat only in the winter, as the sun is too high to reflect in the summer. We love the light and warmth that fills our house on these short winter days and provides brightness against the bleak landscape of brown and gray hills across the way.
We’ll enjoy the simple pleasures of family, food, football, and friends this holiday. I wish you the best for the season and lots of love around your table.
© Richard Citrin 2023
