Today is…

...the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere; that is, the first day of winter and first day of summer, respectively, in those two parts of the world. Here in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where I live, near 34°N latitude, the sun rose at 7:40 a.m. and will set at 5:31 p.m., giving me slightly less than 10 hours of daylight and leaving me with slightly more than 14 hours of darkness (night). It is the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. Everything north of the Arctic Circle has 24 hours of darkness. At the same time, in the suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, where kylie lives, near 34°S latitude, the opposite happened; the sun gave her about 14 hours of daylight, leaving her with about 10 hours of darkness. It is the longest day and shortest night of the entire year. Everything south of the Antarctic Circle has 24 hours of sunlight.

There is a word that describes everything I have told you so far.

Normal.

Fot earthlings, terrans, creatures like us, that is. Any Martians or Venusians or Jupiterians who happen to be visiting among us would find it abnormal. Their normal is a whole different kettle of fish set of circumstances.

In case you hadn't noticed, today is also the first day of the rest of your life. Cherish it. Be thankful for it. Spend it wisely, as it will never come again.

The earth will do its part by continuing to spin at just the right speed, tilt at just the right angle, and proceed in its orbit around the sun at just the right pace so that conditions are right for you to do likewise tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22)