For The Last Time

The last day of the year meant we could say this is the last time we would do this or that, for example; "This is the last time I will use the bathroom in 2010". or "This is the last glass of water I'll drink in 2010". or, we'd say corny things like; "See you next year"... which would be day after tomorrow. Just silly things to mark the last time something would happen this year and next year would soon be upon us.

23½º

December 21, 2010 Solstice takes place at 23:38 Universal Time = 5:38 PM Central Standard Time.

It's a big deal, when the shadow of the earth can be seen from earth, it's all the rage when the moon and the sun play a kind of hide and go seek. A lunar eclipse is like watching a quiet storm or a silent movie. It's a star studded event, it's an extravaganza rarely seen by humankind. All the main characters placed in position. The world orbits on it's own tilted axis around the sun, the North Pole leans 23½ degrees shying away from the warmth only to scurry and search for the light as quickly as possible tomorrow.

Late dawns, early sunsets, lingering noontime shadows, mood swings, emotions run high and low. Existence moves at a faster pace. In the northern hemisphere it is the shortest day of the year, in the southern hemisphere, it is the longest day. Places are traded, roles reversed, shifts occur. Crazy to imagine the globe moving at an average speed of 18 miles per second. Makes life as we know it seem to be moving in ultra warped slow motion. It's all so curious yet studied since antiquity astronomically, mathematically, scientifically and with countless instruments, tools, devices, maps, charts, Stonehenge's and other means of attempting to figure out the absolute in a infinite sea of variables and factors.

The days in our lives from this corner of the world grows longer after today. The imperfect circle meets the perfect cycle and rhythm of life. Sunrise, sunset and repeat.

December 12

December 12th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, mother of Jesus and Patron saint of the America's. Devotee's stem from Mexico, New Mexico, the great Southwest and around the world, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a symbol of faith, hope and love.

The Dominican nun's at Queen of Heaven got it in their heads to put a pageant play on one year, at the church. We were 6th or 7th graders as I recall and you played the part of a bishop.You wore a red cassock with a matching skull cap and looked very bishopy. I was a guard and my costume was a Mexican serape vest and a super goofy straw hat, which were big in the late 60's. Something Annette Funacello and Frankie Avalon, wore in those movies with a beach backdrop. Roy Rivera narrated the play which was very corny and very sweet. Afterwards, Mom treated us to a great spaghetti dinner at Caruso's, the Italian neighborhood resturante.

Mom has always believed that good things happen to her on The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She has believed it and so it has been, is and will be. Amen. Here's to you "Lupe" we love you, most holy, precious, peaceful, perfect one.