Next Thursday, we’ll gain four minutes and the week after that — Holy Astronomy! — 17 huge minutes and by Jan. 11, good grief, we’re lookin’ at 6 hours and 36 minutes of sunlight, a whopping gain of almost 40 minutes. You see where this is going? By early February when you’re driving through town and hit the dropping-kids-off-at-school morning traffic jam, the crack o’ dawn will actually be, well, the crack o’ dawn.
Don’t ask the B. to explain how and why the winter solstice works or why the sun actually rises later on Dec. 23. Of course ya know the solstice is that moment when the sun crosses the Tropic of Capricorn, latitude 23 degrees 27 minutes — 3:22 p.m. today. All you really need to know is that, see above, it’s getting brighter.
Don’t curse the night completely. You have to admit it’s pretty dang cool to look up at a clear, sparkling sky with the Milky Way spread out from horizon to horizon. When those northern lights come out, shazam, the cold fades away as the awe of the universe surrounds us. Night, schmight: it’s not so bad, eh?
Which is another way of saying that a.m. or p.m., the universe at winter time has plenty to amaze us — hey, like some of these Best Bets:
BEST WRAP IT UP BET: A little harried with last-minute Christmas shopping? Don’t want to face wrapping all those presents, too? Let the gang at the American Legion Auxiliary help you out at their shop on Pioneer Avenue today through Christmas Eve. They’ll wrap gifts — tags, paper and ribbon included — and get Santa wannabees on their way. Donations accepted.
BEST MAKE A CANDLE, CURSE THE DARKNESS BET: With this rowdy weather we’ve been having lately, auxiliary light sources can come in handy. Go low-tech with a candle making workshop from 1-3 p.m. today at Refuge Chapel. For information, call 235-7911.
BEST SING ON BET: Get in the holiday spirit with more music. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday the Rev. Poor Child plays instrumental music at Espresso Express. At 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday it’s another night of a Prairie Homer Companion at the dance studio on Bunnell Avenue, with Christmas songs “you won’t hear anywhere else.” Admission is $2.
BEST BLAZING BUBBLES BET: Experience or energy? Which factor wins the race? Place your bets from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at the Kate Kuhns Aquatic Center for the first “Eat My Wake” Swim Off between alumni and Homer High School club swimmers.
BEST WEAR ‘EM OUT BET: Parents, need to tire out some wired up children way too excited about Christmas? Work off some energy on Sunday with a Christmas Eve skate party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Homer Ice Arena. You know Ho-Ho Who will be there for any last-minute requests — and to check out who’s being naughty or nice.
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