Downhill

Finally, the first day of winter has arrived.

The high temperature in this area next week is predicted to be 66 degrees and the low is supposed to drop to 39 degrees.  So, all the folks around here–including me–will be wearing their sweaters and boots.  I draw the line at mittens and hats, though.  My daughter laughed to see a couple walking our neighborhood this morning wearing stocking hats and coats and gloves.

My daughter was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops.

I always think of winter solstice as the beginning of the downhill slide back into summer and longer days.  We’ve trudged through shorter and shorter days, longer and longer nights and now, finally, we’ll inch down the hill.

And before I know it, I’ll be sitting under my umbrella at the beach, luxuriating in the warmth of the sun.

But first, Christmas.

And the first day of Not The End of the World.