Ahhhh, Solstice

The Northern Hemisphere's shortest day of the year. It is pretty bitter cold outside, here in Chicago. I had to go outside for a minute earlier, but soon I will be driving to my morning church service. Brrrrrr.

I am celebrating this cyclical shift, grateful for the lengthening of days. I am also grateful that in six months the cycle changes again, not allowing the days to lengthen beyond the time they are marked.

I do wish, however, that I could enjoy this cycle with out the bitter cold. I enjoy the lengthening of darkness, but I can't go play in it the way I want. What to do - what to do? I will enjoy this day - the shortest day - just as it is and just as I am. I will drink my tea and print out my sermon. I will take my vitamins to ward off this potential cold. And I will remind myself as often as I can to "center down" in the midst of finding parking spots and bundling up to go from car to church to car to the other church to car to home. I am grateful for a car. I am grateful for my jobs. I am grateful for my home.



Music and lyrics Joni Mitchell.

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game

Then the child moved ten times 'round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like "when you're older" must
appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers
gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through
the town
And they tell him, "Take your time, it won't
be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the
circles down"

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game

So the years spin by and now the boy
is twenty
Though his dreams gave lost some
grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better
dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game

And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game