If my late father had a favorite winter day, it would have been Dec. 21, which happens to be today (Sunday).
Dec. 21 marks the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official first day of winter. It is the turning point, when the long nights finally begin to shorten and the days, ever so slowly at first, begin to lengthen again.
As my dad grew older and entered the long, dark winter of his own life, I think those ever-longer nights and ever-briefer days reminded him that time was slipping away. Winter was no longer just a season; it was a metaphor.
That is why he always looked forward to Dec. 21. On that morning, he would have a spring in his step, getting up as early as possible to mark the fact that we had all made it through another dark season. “The future is going to be much brighter,” he might have said, “no doubt about it!” If he were still here.
The long-running HBO series Game of Thrones made famous the phrase “Winter is coming.” It wasn’t just about the seasons; it was about the looming darkness that arrives every year and, eventually, in every life. My dad died before he ever saw the show, but he understood exactly what that phrase meant.
I am now in my 79th year, and it is easy to identify with his feelings. With that introduction, let me say plainly: today is a great day. Yes, the nights will be getting shorter. And yes, the days will be getting longer.
Of course, here in Wyoming, we may still have four and a half months of wintry weather ahead of us.
My Patio Markers
Some years ago, I placed markers on my deck showing where the sun sets on the spring and fall equinoxes and on the summer and winter solstices. We all feel like the sun moves during the year, but when you actually see those markers, it is almost unbelievable.
If I stand looking straight ahead at the marker for the spring and fall equinoxes, the summer sun sets far to my right. The winter sun, by contrast, disappears astonishingly far to the left. The distance between them is almost unimaginable until you see it for yourself.
Of course, the sun doesn’t actually move. The Earth tilts on its axis, but to us it appears as though the sun has traveled a very long way across the horizon.
This time of year, the sun dropping between 4:30 and 5 p.m. can be a shock to the system. In my hometown of Lander, we also lose about 20 additional minutes of daylight because the afternoon sun slips behind the massive Wind River Mountains to our southwest.
And if the days feel shorter, it’s because they truly are. The longest day of summer is five hours and 50 minutes longer than the shortest day of winter, nearly a quarter of an entire day.
That is one reason so many people struggle emotionally this time of year: too much darkness. Seasonal depression is a real thing. I think most people are afflicted with it.
Despite the recent winds, there are two other culprits this time of year: cold and ice. Friends all across Wyoming have been slipping on icy sidewalks and driveways, breaking bones and suffering painful injuries during winter weather.
Some towns benefit from regular winter winds that warm the air just enough to melt ice. But places like Lander, Riverton, Sheridan, Newcastle, Worland, and Evanston usually don’t get as much wind, so the ice tends to linger. (Note: This year, everybody is getting more wind!). Few things are more depressing than dealing with a broken arm, a separated shoulder, or a fractured hip from a winter fall.
This season is also a reminder to reach out to those who have had a difficult year and for whom the holidays don’t bring much cheer. Please be there for those folks. They will appreciate it more than you know.
So, happy first day of winter, everyone.
Tomorrow will be wonderful.
Time To Help Out
Across Wyoming, people are busy helping neighbors in need during the holiday season.
There is real need out there during these dark days of December. Thankfully, there are also countless good-hearted people stepping forward to help those who are less fortunate this time of year.
Bill Sniffin can be reached at: Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com
