Come gather ‘round people in this time zone
And admit that the winter around you has flown
And accepting that soon you’ll awake with a moan
You’re losing one hour not saving
For the clocks, they are a-changing.

Sorry about the silliness, but right along with death, taxes and Facebook hackers is that peculiarly labeled phenomenon called Daylight Saving Time. I mean, why does it need to be saved and where do they keep it after we save it?

If you think about it, it really doesn’t save anything. It happens at 2 a.m. on Sunday, and whoosh…we’ve jumped 60 minutes into the future. Kind of like time travel, but the trouble is on Monday morning, my body is wanting to live in the past.
In light of this, I have a better idea. How about let’s do it at 4 p.m. on Friday? Please?

I’ve never really heard a logical argument to keep adjusting the clock twice a year. Granted, they say it became vital for war production during WWII when it was known as War Time, but I’m wondering if it hasn’t outlived its usefulness. To be honest, the only benefit I could ever see was when growing up, we could play outside until nine o’clock. That’s when our mom would call us in, but of course, we were out of earshot half the time, riding our bicycles a couple of streets away.

But not to worry, we’ll get that hour back in the fall. It’s recyclable, which in this day and age is commendable like washing out a zip lock bag to reuse or keeping an empty coffee can to pour bacon grease into.

All this compulsory re-setting of the clocks makes me envy the days when every town had its own more-or-less time zone. There would be a sundial of some sort, and wind-up clocks would be set at noon at the highest point on the dial. And that was for people who actually needed to know. Oh sure, people had pocket watches and grandfather clocks, which they used when Ma would tell Pa, “Dinner in ten minutes,” but otherwise, standardized timekeeping wasn’t crucial until the trains came. Socorro’s town clock on the plaza is reminiscent of those old days, I suppose, but I’ve never seen anyone walk up and set their watches by it.

Anyway, when the railroad came to town with its timetables and telegraph poles, somewhere along the way, it was decided that there should be four time zones and not a separate time zone for each community.

Having lived in each time zone at one time or another, I wonder if we should have more than four. Maybe the Free State of Socorro should start its own time zone – The Comfort Zone – where if someone says they’ll do something this afternoon, it’ll get done tomorrow.

OK, I’m joking, but in this modern world and the semi-annual fooling around with the clocks, it’s a wonder they haven’t made us switch to keeping time on the metric system.

But at least I don’t have to change the clock on my acoustic telegraph.
I think I’m starting to babble.

We’re easing into the month of March, my favoritest, bestest month. I’m assuming here that other people think their birthday month is the best month.

Anyway, if you need something to celebrate besides my birthday, St. Patrick’s Day and the Vernal Equinox, the Oscars for 2023 movies will be awarded this Sunday with much hoopla and glad-handing. In looking over the category nominees, I have to say I’ve only seen two: Barbie and a short film called The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar.
Funny. I didn’t see a category for Best Foot Stepping Out of a Car.

But I digress.

March is Women’s History Month, Music in Our Schools Month, National Craft Month, Frozen Food Month, Irish American Heritage Month, Peanut Month, Red Cross Month and Social Workers Month.

It’s also National Nutrition Month, promoted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which tells us, “There’s no one diet that is right for everyone, so it’s important to follow a healthful eating plan that’s packed with tasty foods and that keeps your unique lifestyle in mind.”

Sure, sure, easy to say, but sometimes it feels like we keep playing the “what’s good to eat/what’s bad to eat” game. For instance, eggs, once thought bad for you, are now OK. It all has to do with good cholesterol versus bad cholesterol. And the number of eggs you eat in one day. And the ratio of egg whites versus egg yolks. And whether they are hard-boiled or fried in bacon grease.

Wait. Stop already.

I’ll settle for the creme-filled one made by Cadbury they sell by the check-out leading up to Easter.

 

 

 

 

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain