Falling Back

Anyone who wants another of those extra hours we all got this last weekend can have mine. Free. No charge. Gratis. A free bee. Even super-size it. A bonus offer. Take one and get another one free. A twin pack. What ever.

I've fallen back and I don't care. Take that extra hour and do whatever you want with it. I don't like, don't want it, don't care what anyone else does with it and don't want to know what anyone does with it.

I love springing ahead but hate falling back. When even you fall back you don't always fall in something nice. Especially in the dark.

And that pholks, is what happens when we annually fall back. It gets darker quicker.

I'm not afraid of the dark and have actually had some quite fond memories of the dark. But that has nothing to do with my dislike for Standard Time, especially in the final quarter of the year.

I simply don't like the return to Standard Time. Fall is the World Series, pro and college football, a few good television programs and extra reasons for more cuddling--things which I really do cherish. But I don't need darkness to make them any better.

Sure pholks, I know it's only one hour we regain and some people say that every hour counts a little more when a person gets to or past middle age. Hopefully, I have enough hours left in my lifetime to “get 'er done” without needing that one stupid, useless hour each year. If I have to rely on that extra hour I've done even worst that I've been accused of most of my life. I still have some school report cards which contain the phrase “does not make good use of his time.” My wife likes to share those stories with others when talking to friends about some of the treasures she uncovered while organizing mementos which my mother stashed away before she passed away.

I can't deny that I didn't make the best use of my time in school and very likely would have received better academic grades had I done so. But boy, did I have fun and I somehow made it though college, a place where some of those wasted hours were fantastic. And remember, there was that “extra” hour even back in my school and college years.

The way I look at it, trying to make up for all those lost hours is a waste of time. Realistically, we don't have an extra hour. All we do is exchange one hour of daylight each Spring and Fall. It's just a trade off. There is no “lost hour” nor “extra hour” at all. It's just something we do.

In fact pholks, come to think of it, I wrote this column in less than an hour. I guess I could say I still have a few minutes of extra time left if I'm chalking up that “extra hour” which doesn't really exist to column writing time.

And since I wrote it before 2 a.m. Sunday morning I still have an “extra hour” coming which I don't need or want.

So, if you really want my extra hour, call me within the next hour.

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Yes pholks, my so-called cousin Isabella made it to town last weekend and she had a great time.

She is for real and I have a semi-family photo to prove it. I call it a semi-family photo because she is only semi-family. Isabella, Bella for short, is no blood relation.

I still have a lot to learn about this self-styled Gypsy woman but I did learn that she is a true free spirit.

Word has it that she broke a few hearts but conducted herself in a lady-life fashion.

She didn't say too much to me but hinted she would like to return next fall, about the same time. She hinted also about having a party but gave no details. Maybe there is more secrets which I will have to seek out.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com