June 21
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

It's the longest day of the year, as I'm sure you're all aware.  The funny thing about that is  that I always think about the longest day of the year when it's nowhere near the day, like, it'll come to mind in March when it's shitty out and I'm screaming cranky because it's not summer and the days are just barely starting to get warm, but only for like 5 minutes at noon, on a Wednesday and when you want to go out and night and not wear a coat? Forget it.  You will freeze to death, even if you've got a bunch of beer keeping you all pretend warm.  Your pretend warmth lasts about 20 seconds on a March night in New England. It lasts long enough for you to exclaim "why in the motherfuck is it so cold out here?!"  but certainly nowhere near long enough for you to get to your car without being wracked with uncontrollable shivers and your happy "I was dancing to Toots and the Maytals and drinking vodka and cranberry juices because it was nickel night!" buzz to be eliminated.

In any case, I always remind myself ahead of time "This year, this will be the year I remember that June 21st is the longest day of the year!!  No, I WILL! I'll write it down or something!"  Of course, I never, never do.  The day typically comes and goes with no kind of fanfare whatsoever, and I never remember that it's the Longest Day of the Year because, well, you can't usually gauge length of sunshine when it's cloudy, which it has been for the past 5 years*.  So really, it's not my fault.  The remembering the day is the fault of weather, and not at all me.

(*Note:  this is a total lie.  Last year, it was sunny.  I just forgot because I think it's one of those things that's important only when it's not actually the day.  A very merry Unbirthday to you.)

I don't know what made me remember this morning, but my recollection was false, because I was under the erroneous impression that today was in fact that 20th.  I said to Nick "Wow, tomorrow is the longest day of the year!"  knowing fully well that tomorrow would come and go like any other day and I'd not remember at all, until I heard something about it on the news or until my mother called me asking whether or not we'd had any luck balancing eggs*.

(*I am not sure that the egg balancing thing is supposed to be on June 21st or if that was some other day entirely.  I just recall lying on the ground in my yard with eggs.  Honestly, I am not fully sure that the eggs were standing because they were able to stand or because we'd managed to get them wedged carefully atop something that supported their shape.)

I'm not sure why it's even important to me.  I mean, I guess if it was really important to me, I'd make a more concerted effort to remember, but when I do, yes, when I do, it becomes a big deal.  Today is a big deal!  It is different than the normal day, so it is interesting! Today, there are hours of sunlight!  More than usual, even! Did the sun help get me out of bed, even 5 minutes earlier?  No.  No, it did not.  But it was there.  And it'll be there tonight, I hope.  And since I know it'll be there, I want to go out in it so that I have something good to remember that night in March, next year.
 

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DELETIA!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it's done -
Your little winning streak.
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat,
You live your life as if it's real
A thousand kisses deep.