Making the most of the solst(ice)

The last time I was in homeland, Brother David and I were talking about the increase in daylight hours and how we loved that it was light so late. We discussed how the summer solstice was coming up and how it would be great to take advantage of every minute of sunlight on that day. David came up with a plan to wake up with the sun and write down what he was doing every hour until the sun went down. We agreed that this was a great plan, but of course, the concept had to do with SUNLIGHT... not the June gloom we've been having. I'm sure both of us had an idea in our heads of rising with the birds, the sun streaming through the green leaves, frolicking in fields drenched with sunlight, and watching a magnificent pink sky, as the sun slowly dipped behind a purple mountain. Well, this was not so much the case yesterday morning, as I rose at 5:08 am on the dot. I could only imagine that the sun was out there somewhere, but I sure couldn't see it. This is how I made the most of the summer solstice:

5:08am - Rise and shine (or as Erin used to say, "I'll rise, but I won't shine")

6:08am - Breakfast in Harvard Sq.

7:08am - Sitting in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Garden
8:08am - Walking home through Central Sq.

9:08am - On the couch, reading Harry Potter, listening to the rain fall

10:08am - On the couch, reading the funnies

11:08am - Still on the couch, reading Harry Potter again

12:08pm - Driving through Arlington on the way to Spike's dad's

1:08pm - Eating lunch at the 99 with Spike, his dad, and Pat

2:08pm - Driving on Surrey Rd., en route to Jordan's IMAX

3:08pm - Eating jelly beans at Jordan's, watching the fountain show
4:08pm - Waiting in line for the IMAX, still eating jelly beans

5:08pm - Watching Night at the Museum 2 at the IMAX

6:08pm - Driving home on 93 through Medford

7:08pm - On the couch, watching Bottle Shock

8:08pm - Still on the couch, watching Bottle Shock

8:34pm - On the porch, watching the "sunset"

So I feel like I started out with the right idea... I stepped out the door at 5:15am and saw a Blue Jay right away. I took note of how quiet and still everything was and even saw that a neighbor a few houses down keeps chickens that do really get up a the crack of dawn. The fact that it was overcast both detracted and added to my experience because without the sun I had no idea what time of day it was, but that made the abandoned Memorial Drive and Harvard Square seem so much cooler!

I discovered the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House, which was the headquarters of General George Washington from 1775-1776. Thank goodness the gardens opened at dawn because I was able to sit in them and enjoying the wind whipping through the trees and the birds chirping... I couldn't even tell that I was anywhere near noisy Harvard Square.

I guess the day really deteriorated when the rain started. How could I go out and frolic when the weather was so gross? I had no choice but to stay inside, read, watch two movies, and eat huge quantities of jelly beans. It's a little sad that my log for the longest day of the year seems like it should actually be my record on the shortest day of the year... perhaps the sun will finally be shining for the winter solstice. I can only hope.