Relative Something

This morning, sunrise occurred at a new time, under the change to Daylight Saving Time in the U.S.

I saw a poll yesterday, that indicated the majority of people would prefer that we not change the clocks at all. I am included in that majority. I think it is a useless annoyance.

Something about it makes me feel like a helpless kid. I have no choice in the matter. Why do we change the clocks? Because we do. It’s just what we do. It has been in practice for over a century.

“It saves energy.”

“It helps the economy.”

“It does not.”

The debates I hear even sound juvenile to me, but that just may be the mode I’m in. I keep having thoughts about childhood, lately. Maybe it is the many times that my recent experiences on our new property are bringing remembrances of my formative years on my family’s farm property in the 1960s.

I have reduced my hours at the day-job, and spend more time here at Wintervale. I don’t have to get up and get ready to go to work everyday. When that work-day arrives, I look in the mirror and discover I have been doing less daily grooming. I don’t enjoy spending time in front of the mirror. (Maybe that is because I am seeing my reverse image.) Last week, I thought, ‘I never had to spend this kind of time when I was a kid.’

That got me to thinking about the pros and cons of being a kid:

Pro: The only grooming required is, your mom licking her hand to fix your hair.
Con: Your mom licks her hand to fix your hair.

Pro: You never have to drive yourself anywhere.
Con: You can’t drive yourself anywhere.

Pro: Your friends make you laugh.
Con: Milk comes out your nose.

Pro: You get to go everywhere with your mom, and people fawn over you.
Con: You have to go everywhere with your mom and strangers try to talk to you and pinch your face.

Pro: You get to go outside and play games with your friends.
Con: You have to register for a team and wear a uniform and be driven to an official field for games with parent coaches and kids older than you as referee.

Pro: You get to be the center of attention.
Con: You have to learn you don’t always get to be the center of attention.

Pro: You get to go to school for free.
Con: You have to go to school.

Pro: You are always learning new things.
Con: You have to learn every new thing.

Pro: The world of possibilities lies before you.
Con: There are an incomprehensible number of possibilities you must face.

Pro: You don’t have to plan each of your days.
Con: You don’t get to set the plan for your days.

Pro: You are encouraged to wish for anything you want.
Con: You might get what you wish for.

Okay, so that last one might not be a con. I got Wintervale, didn’t I? No wonder I feel like a kid again. That, and the fact I had to change the clocks today, even though I didn’t want to.