Sunday, March 14, 2010

A Modest Proposal: Only Fall Back

Oh, this time-shifting business! I do quite well with the "fall back" in the autumn, but putting clocks ahead in the spring knocks me for a loop for a couple of weeks. Why is that? Fooling the body out of a measly hour can't do that much damage, can it? All in me head, is it? Perhaps. But I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from the same Spring Ahead Malady.

So here's what I propose. Let's just keep falling back. Time isn't tricked out of being what it is, anyway, so let's get creative. Yes, yes, I know. If we only turn the clocks back an hour a couple of times a year, then pretty soon everything would be topsy turvey. Day would be night; night would be day, etc. So what?

For eons (well, since humans sorted out a 60-minute/24-hour/12-month process) we've been tied to the ever-ticking clock.  Who's to say that's the only option? If we must keep track of time - and that's a big IF, since keeping track of time is driving us all to unprecedented stress levels - who says we can't manipulate it in more, um, interesting ways, hm?

Oh, c'mon. It'll be fun! Give us something interesting to do. So no more losing an hour a year, which takes us all weeks afterwards to get back to normal. Let's keep capturing an extra hour by only turning the clocks back. Psychologically, we'll think we're gaining an hour, even as the clock no longer matches the position of the sun. Be bold! Let's shake ourselves out of this awful Spring ritual.

Well, don't blame me for this crazy idea. Blame the loss of an hour. Maybe another little nap will help.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This must run in our family. I hate the spring/spring. My suggestion would be to lose a minute a day for 60 days prior to the date set for this change and then the change would be so gradual perhaps we wouldn't notice as much. How would that work for you?
Then again I have always thought what happens if you are born during the time of fall/fall and die during spring/spring seems as though you get cheated out of an hour of your life. Yeah, what about that?
Bro.

MaryB said...

Well, that's an idea. Now that most of our time-keeping devices are on automatic (computer, cable/satellite boxes, iPods, etc.), we'd barely notice the minute a day.

Liz Hinds said...

Ours hasn't sprung forward yet. Not until 28th. And some clown of a church leader who's thinking about starting our Sunday service half an hour earlier, thinks that would be a good day to do it! 'Well, people are already having to get up an hour early so they may as well make it 90 minutes.' Yeah right.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I like your proposal Mary. I hate having to set all my clocks...even with the devices that set themselves; it's still a pain. It seems like we just did them for the fall...Geesh!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Just stopping by to tell you I have given you an award Mary...and so HAPPY to do it. Please stop by my place and pick it up...it's well-deserved. Love, Joy