The Solstice

The first full day of this break marks the winter solstice. Sol, the Latin and astronomical (and Spanish) name for the sun, is angled as far away from us as it will be this year circa 11:11 a.m. From this point on, our days get longer. Gradually, we may start realizing once more that there is such a thing as a "Minnesota summer".

But for now, the coldest and snowiest days are probably still to come. We can brace ourselves against them and decry the idea of venturing into the elements, or we can embrace the cold and the snow and defy them. When we are given the opportunity to cower or to stand tall, I'd prefer we do the latter, because when the going gets tough, that's when the Minnesotans get going.

So keep skiing over the break. Because it's not a break from school, it's a break for skiing, and the best way to enjoy something is to get good at it, and the best way to get good at something is to do it (again and again).

Because the days will only get longer and brighter from here.

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