Saturday morning

Good morning, friends.

Happy Chanukah to those of you who celebrate. May your oil ever burn.

Looks like we are in the countdown. . . to Christmas and also the darkest night. Yup, this is the time of the year that Alaskans look forward to with glee - soon, the nights will grow shorter and the days will grow longer. Those who are affected by SAD will be able to see their way out of the tunnel in which they live. And, those not affected by that will still seek the sun and greet it hungrily. We're just like that.

It is easy to understand those feelings when you think of the average Alaskan's schedule. Children up and ready for school which starts (depending on age and grade level) anywhwere from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. This means children catch the bus or you drive them or they walk to school in the dark. Adults then go on to work - still in the dark.

Unless people take an outside-of-the-office lunch break, the day is spent indoors. At our family shop there are no windows at the work stations - the printing presses are in a solid-walled room. The type-setting computers likewise. Only the front office has a window, but we are seldom in that part of the building. And, my office at the crisis center has a window that looks out onto a sheltered area which is on the opposite side of the building from the winter sun.

After a day's work, adults drive home - in the dark. There are a couple of months that many adults just never get to see the sun except on weekends.

Of course, in Barrow, the sun doesn't even rise above the horizon for several months. It set Nov. 18th and won't rise again until January 23rd. Glad I don't live in Barrow.

You might understand, therefore, why some Alaskans become snow birds, traveling to the lower 48 ("Outside" as it is known) with the first hint of color on the birches, not to return until the snow is melted in the spring. Those who cannot travel the entire winter tend to try for a week or two in Hawaii or the Caribbean, or Mexico - someplace warm and sunny.

It also explains why Alaskans seem tired and/or cranky during the winter months - and, on the other hand, are always on the go during summer months.

Then again, stories like the Ladybug's might also answer the question as to why this Nana Moose is still tired today. ;-) The only thing she didn't mention was the time - we didn't all get home and into our warm beds until about 3:00 a.m. And, up again at 6:30 a.m. to start the day. I didn't sit down or stand still for longer than a few minutes all of that day because I knew I would fall asleep.

Would I do it over again? In a heartbeat.

So - I will say Happy Saturday to you all and head out of here to finish wrapping presents and making the house presentable.

Posted by Purplemoose at December 20, 2003 10:24 AM