Brighten up your solstice even more
Although we are currently delighted to be in the month of summer solstice, don't let this brightness deceive you. The darkening autumnal equinox will soon be upon us and before you know it, children walking to school, bicyclists, and craftspeople will be scrambling for more light.
Just as many people ceremoniously switch out smoke detector batteries during seasonal shifts, now is the perfect time for a little light maintenance. To celebrate our solstice consider purchasing a fresh flashlight from one of our fine valley hardware stores. Many carry a wide array of beacons; some with ultra efficient light emitting diodes. Some flashy lights recharge through solar means, while others operate in perpetuum through a few light shakes. While you're at it wipe the muck off your headlamps, to better sense the elk nonchalantly jaywalking across our highways.
Yes, paradoxically a flashlight is one of the best gifts you can give while our shadows are still small. Six months from now these operable beacons can be used to dig out some beach music from your archives to warm the heart and bring more joy to whatever Winter Solstice celebration you might be joining. Whenever I hand a flashlight to a friend, I think of the esteemed German philosopher Goethe's last profound words of "Mehr Licht!"
