07/06/07 Summer or winter

People's perspective of common occurrences can be pretty interesting. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll try to explain that statement a little better right after this. You just never know where or from whom you're going to hear some real sideways logic. Even with the best intentions, I'm usually late getting the last of the winter hay bought and hauled to the winter feed pasture. Many years ago, one of the hay haulers got a load to our place right at dark. He said he didn't want to unload in the dark since it was way easier for an accident to happen and wondered if he could borrow my car to go home and come back tomorrow. I agreed and he said it would be a better day tomorrow since summer began. I looked at him and said this is December 21st, the first day of winter. He replied that's right today is the shortest day of the year, tomorrow the days start getting longer  I always figured that meant summer was starting. Whoa, that's some pretty deep thinking for this small town boy and I was impressed. Besides that it's a nice little optimistic way to start into actual winter. I thought that idea was so clever I couldn't wait until the next winter solstice and impart my newfound logic on others. People just looked at me and then just looked at me. Another thing I found didn't work was telling people who are real summer lovers that on June 22 winter starts because the days start getting shorter. Some people just don't understand logic or have a sense of humor. I don't know which. I'm Jeff Keane.