Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Autumn Airs


I can feel it in the morning when I can also see it in the stars above. Autumn is approaching.

Morning temperatures have been in the 60's--which seems cool. I even had to drive my convertible to the golf course on Sunday with the heat running and the windows up because the air seemed too cool on my arms.

Orion has returned to the morning sky and the fact that I see stars again as I head out for my day reminds me that the days are growing shorter. Too short it seems. I went out for a walk last evening about 8:30 PM and it was dark. Totally dark. Scary dark.

Daylight has been reduced to just over 13 hours per day and I noticed yesterday morning that the sun was only just beginning to rise as I left the club following a tough racquetball match. Since daylight peaked during the solstice, at just less that 15 hours during June, we have lost almost two hours of sunlight. 

With the demise of August, the slide towards December darkness continues at a steady rate of about two and a half minutes per day. By the end of September the sun will be rising after 7AM and setting before 7PM. We lose over two hours of sunlight per day as September progresses and finally becomes October.

I need to make the most of the remaining daylight. And enjoy it and remember it until it begins to return and strengthen.

The first days with a highs less than 80 degrees are on the horizon for the weekend. 

Summer is slipping away. Too fast. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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