On Wednesday, December 21, 2995 at 1:30 PM EST, Mother Earth will celebrate the winter solstice. That is the time when the North Pole is tilted at the greatest angle away from the sun. Daylight-wise, it is the shortest day. If you would like more details, I suggest you go to the following page at Wolfram Research. There you will receive a scientific explanation of the whole process.

The northeastern United States has been in the dead of winter for most of the month of December. We even had a morning low of zero degrees a few days ago in Lancaster County. That is unheard of in the month of December. We have even had a major snow event and a major ice event. Considering that this is my first winter in the North in 17 years, I think that is unforgivable. Mother Nature must really be ticked off at me. I can't imagine what it will be like when winter finally arrives next week. I am reminded of that great old Christmas Carol, In the Bleak Midwinter. The first verse goes like this:

Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

In the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

I think that I might crawl into bed and not get out until April 1. If bears can hibernate, why can't I? Well, maybe I'll wait until after the holidays. I wouldn't want to miss all that good food and drink.

Our one consolation is that after Wednesday, the days will start getting longer, and we will be on a steady path to spring. Yeah!!!! Well, I wish all of my friends wonderful religious holidays and may you all stay warm as we face the brunt of Old Man Winter. God bless you all and may there be peace on this old earth. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah everyone!