Summer Solstice & the QOTD

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle.

"The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours."

~ Ayn Rand

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Today is the longest day, which is saying something in Alaska. I was up at 2:00 this morning, and - with the blinds closed - it's still light enough to walk around. The hotels are traditionally crammed to capacity on this day, as tourists from all points south flock here to experience the longest day.

This first photo was taken around 9:30 last night - the second was taken nearer midnight, before I went reluctantly to bed. You can see that a) the sun isn't moving that fast, and b) it isn't moving that far, either.

Here in Anchorage, we have about 21 1/2 hours of daylight, with 90 minutes of dusk (assuming it's not cloudy). Farther north in Fairbanks, they have their traditional Midnight Sun baseball game which begins, appropriately enough, at midnight. Of course, they're only 25± miles from the Arctic Circle; we're some 300 miles farther south.

All I know is we enjoy the daylight, making up for the long months of winter. This time of year, with its long days and lush foliage, makes life here worth any depredation we may feel elsewhen. After all, where else do you see people try to stay up for four days in a row? "Come home when it's dark" means "late July", as more than one parent has learned to their regret.

It's the best time to be an Alaskan. Y'all come on up - we'll make room.