Blue

If you have ever wondered why the hour just after the sun has set is referred to as the “blue hour” perhaps this image will clarify it for you. Somehow when I’m in the world, walking around Jamaica Pond, for example, it doesn’t seem quite so striking. But when I look at the image on the screen, well, it becomes clear. (And my guess is that I didn’t up the saturation on this image, just for the record…)

The sun goes behind the hills so early now that it’s not uncommon to return home from a walk in midnight darkness at 4:30 in the afternoon! Partly the days are shorter now and partly we’ve played with the clocks. This system makes no sense to me. There’s just not enough daylight at this time of year and turning clocks back really doesn’t change that. It’s a mild version of human arrogance.

As I write, it’s quite warm but colder weather is coming. And that is right and appropriate, no matter what I feel about it. Somehow remembering the beauty of this chill day makes it easier to tolerate the coming cold. That, and knowing that spring will follow…