Morning Has BrokenAn Hour Late
by Wendel Potter
April 2, 2006
Well, the government has screwed me over once again. Daylight Saving Time is upon us this weekend.
No, I didn't get gypped out of an hour's sleep. Actually, I did but that's not my main complaint here. I can always take a nap later in the day if necessary.
Now then, it's later in the day and I'm back from my nap. So, to continue:
Many Americians are puffed up and braying that they now have an extra hour of daylight in the evening and that allows them more time to pursue outdoor activities. Today they love our wise, night owl-pandering lawmakers.
I, on the other hand, am apparently in the minority which has no voice. What's new, huh?
I'm one of the little people. That is, a morning person. We are wee people in the wee hours.
In my way of thinking, I LOSE an hour of daylight come the first Sunday of April. The process, by the way, will begin the second Sunday of March in 2007 and we won't even go into that for now.
I LOSE an a.m. hour because I rise early. 5 o'clock! Ordinarily, by the time I pour my coffee and sit down to just meditate and get my bearings, the spring birds are waking up.
I love the good morning song of the birds in spring. It brings a sense of hope to the dawn. Believe me, I need all the hope I can get.
Now my hope for a good day is shoved back an hour. Now 5 o'clock is really 4 o'clock which means the birds are either still sleeping or clearing their throats.
They need to clear their throats because Daylight Saving Time encourages people to drive all over billy hell in their emission-belching vehicles an hour longer in the evening, running here and there because THERE'S STILL DAYLIGHT! BECAUSE THEY CAN!
The poor birds are choking when they go to bed and phlegmy when they get up. Some are on oxygen.
Here's one of the original intentions behind the institution of a revised DST window. That would be energy savings.
The thought is this: an extra hour of daylight in the evening would mean less consumption of electricity. Americans wouldn't have to turn the lights on so early.
I got news for you. Morning people have to now turn the lights on earlier when they get up. So how is this helping?
Yesterday morning, I arose and went about my routine and while the birds were serenading me, I padded around with a hint of daylight filtering through the windows just before six o'clock.
It was picturesque. And that's not a word I use very often.
But today! Today, I arose early once again so I could make it to seven o'clock Mass. I went to the kitchen to brew my coffee and immediately ran into the wall!
What I could see and avoid at 6 a.m. on April 1st sprang out of the darkness and attacked me on April 2nd. Then, I had to turn on the headlights on the way to church. That's a drain on my battery!
Joke's on me! April Fool's came a day late!
It just isn't fair.
In church we were reminded of what Jesus said. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's."
I've given plenty to Caesar. It's high time Caesar gives me back my daylight in the morning.
Copyright 2006 Wendel Potter
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