I can fully understand why the solstice would have held such a spell over the ancients. At the more moderate latitudes, such events as solstices and equinoxes are much less noticeable, let alone celebrated. But up here, where you can feel yourself leaning north right now, the progression of seasons is… comfortable.
Anticipated, comforting even.
Seven hours and fifty five minutes. That’s all we saw of her, Sol. Less, since it was overcast most of the day. But it dawned a clear day at least, with a waning crescent moon visible outside our window. It beats the 4:12 of Yellowknife that I lived through for a decade.
Two events mark the day for us. The first is our second annual The Brunch Before Christmas. The first, of course, in our new house in Inglewood. It’s a chance for my gang and Ti’s to mix and mingle, and eat waffles. Waffles are highly underrated, especially homemade ones. I christened the new batter spreading, mess maker with eight batches of six with fairly good results.
Or perhaps the blueberry sauce just covered things up well.
The second, and arguably more meaningful, is the passage into adulthood of the youngest of the boys. Cass, of the Yellowknife clan, turned 18 today. We celebrated by going out for a drink at our neighbourhood pub, the Hose and Hound. That’s right, I bough my kid a beer.
Everyone should have one (a cool pub) within walking distance of home.