Well, here we go again, it’s time to move the clocks forward and lose an hour of our Sunday morning.
This will trigger the inevitable debate about changing our clocks. Should we just do as Ron Popeil used to say – set it, and forget it?
Prior to the pandemic, it seemed this was the biggest issue we had to deal with. There were annual debates over the time change. International negotiations ensured - we can’t do this on our own, if Washington, Oregon and California don’t change, how can we?
I’ve driven through time changes before, in Eastern B.C. and between Phoenix and Las Vegas. There isn’t much fanfare, just a sign on the road alerting you to the fact that you either lost or gained an hour. I didn’t feel any different, but somehow 60 minutes of my life was either given or taken away.
My sister is flying to New Zealand next fall. She sent me her itinerary. She leaves San Francisco at 11:40 p.m. on a Thursday. A 13-hour flight later, she arrives at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. Wait, where did Friday go? A good sleep on the plane and a whole day disappears. The fun part is flying home, when she will arrive back here two hours before her departure time. Now there’s a time change!
Personally, I don’t have a problem with the spring forward/fall back schedule. If we stay on daylight savings, the sun would set after 5 p.m. in winter, which would be good for the commute home. Only problem is, the sun doesn’t rise until after 9 a.m., so the kids will be on their way to school before the sun comes up. Hmm, not sure I want them walking to school in the dark in the poor weather. Don’t want to trade the increase in car accidents after the time change for an increase in kids getting hit walking to school.
If we go the other way, leave it at standard time, the sun comes up at 4 a.m. in the summer. Uh, sorry, when it gets bright outside, my dog thinks it’s time for a walk. That’s where I need my extra hour, at least. Plus, I like the longer evenings, and being able to enjoy time outside a little longer.
I hope we just leave it as it is. We have bigger problems to worry about.
God Bless and protect the people of Ukraine.
