“DiSTaste”
Status: Quo Minus
by F. Theresa Gillard
BOSTON, MA—(Weekly Hubris)—3/22/10—Daylight Saving Time. Exactly who is it saving and from what? Twice a year, we are forced to dance this dance. The Fall-ing back I have no problem with. It’s this Spring-ing forward that hurls me for a proverbial loop every year.
Thank goodness I went to an HR seminar. There, during idle conversation, I was informed that the dreaded weekend was upon us. I chose not to believe it. (It’s how I usually handle you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me information.)
Soooo . . . my aunt and I are heading to church, like we do every Sunday. But this Sunday’s going to be special because we watched a movie until around 11:30 p.m., which I knew was really 12:30 a.m., except not until 2:00 a.m.
My aunt was pretending to be me—not believing that we were fast riding DST’s time train. She hadn’t heard any of the usual public alerts; therefore, she was not about to board. I confirmed via the Internet. Still in disbelief, she says that it’s too early for the time change and she hates it.
“Why can’t they just leave time alone?” she asks.
Many, many of us have asked this same question. So, let’s get to the bottom of this. Especially, since it is now 12:01 a.m., yet my mind, body and soul believe it to be 11:01 p.m. And, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that DST exists due to an archaic misconception that no longer applies, yet tradition (and law) perpetuates it.
And, my aunt is right. It seems way too early, because, in 2007, DST was moved up three weeks to the 2nd Sunday in March and back one week to the 1st Sunday in November. It wasn’t bad enough before?
I’ve given this changing time thing a lot of thought. Obviously. In 2009, around the Spring-ing forward time, I heard an NPR “All Things Considered” interview with David Prerau, author of Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time. Prerau’s book provides an interesting and entertaining history of DST from the idea’s originator, Ben Franklin, to present day takes on the issue.
DST was incorporated during both World Wars. After World War II, it was left up to states, cities and counties. This created a wee bit of chaos so, in 1966, we get The Uniform Time Act, which basically dictates the how and when of DST, but leaves adoption up to each state. Meaning states do not have to implement DST but, if they do, it has to be uniformly applied throughout the state.
Doing a little Internet research, I’ve ascertained that farmers, some parents, my aunt, the states of Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) and I all recoil at the mere mention of Daylight Saving Time. (Don’t freak. By now, you’re thinking why can’t Theresa get the term right? But I am correct. The incorrect is Daylight “Savings” Time.)
On the other hand, studies have proven that: 1) lives have been saved (fewer pedestrian fatalities) by DST; 2) we’re given an extra hour of daylight in the evenings, and; 3) there’ve been some energy savings (location driven), which latter has historically been the driving force behind DST.
Keep in mind that DST is a worldwide phenomenon, as well (you’ll have to do your own research on this one). So, there are some countries that are Rah! Rah! DST, whilst many individuals of these countries share my distaste for the concept.
It literally takes me weeks even to partially adjust. And, it doesn’t help that every morning and late night I remind myself of the DST-less time which exists somewhere out there in the gloaming, in the past and future, some states, and other countries . . . thus deepening my pain and denial. I’m truly not whole until time is set back right. Evidently, I’m not the only one.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll take that extra hour of darkness in the evening. Why does the sun get all of the worshipping? What about the stars and the moon? I’m a night-person. I have some vampire-like tendencies (hold the blood, though).
I say stop with this time changing and let the morning sun continue beaming, un-used, against my window shades. I guess I’ve got two choices. Will it be Hawaii or Arizona?
Where do you stand? Or, are you still sleeping?
More DST info? Check out: www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/ and http://www.seizethedaylight.com/
F. Theresa Gillard
F. Theresa Gillard characterizes herself as a Black—not an African American; born/raised in South Carolina; currently residing in New England; never married; no children. Her day benefits-gets-her-bills-paid-job: a Director at a university in Boston. She proclaims herself to be a passionate never-gets-around-to-it writer who is a Rap-House Music/Cheeze-It junkie. What she writes is who she is—meaning she is a take-it-or-leave-it, yes-or-no, with-no-maybe-or-possibly person: basically, she feels it all comes down to that initial “F.” Email Theresa: [email protected] (Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)
6 Comments
Melanie
During the “falling back” change I was trying to time contractions as the clocks switched over at 2am. That threw me a little…All the sudden I wasn’t sure if I was in labor or not…hey, it was way too early in the morning for me to be doing math.
It does seem a little strange, and I don’t think all countries do it on the same day. There have been times that the time difference between my living abroad parents and myself was an hour less or an hour more for a few weeks. Interesting, right?
Eturoel
Dear Ms. Theresa,
I know how to accomplish what Day Light Saving Time is suppose to accomplish without ever touching a clock (somebody once asked: Do farmers milk their cows in accordance with Day Light Saving Time, i.e., an hour earlier, on time, an hour later, or are the cows oblivious to this artificially created change in time?).
But this is going to remain my secret: Too many times, in the Aerospace Industry and in the Field of Education, did I advance some original ideas only to find, in the end, somebody else taking credit for them and accepting the resulting advantages.
There is an old Saying: We get old too soon and smart too late – I could cite myself as a classic example.
Please let me know when your next article comes out – always enjoy it.
Regards,
Eturoel
Laura Lostimolo
Hello Theresa,
Your writing has always fascinated me and this article shows no exception. I look forward to the next. Very well done.
That Librarian
You can add my father to the list of those who do not like DST. Of course he also refuses to use a computer and you seem to be able to handle that.
Another note about DST and WWII – England adopted year-round DST and moved the clock up another hour during the summer – double DST.
Christina A.
Okay Theresa,
This does it!….you definitely have my vote if you EVER decide to run for President!
…true story.
LaTonya
Nicely written and so true (I’m a night owl, myself)…why can’t the moon get a little love? lol
Isn’t it enough that we are 2-3+ hours behind other sections of the nation and world without messing up sleep patterns, too? I have always asked why they don’t move the clock up or down 30 minutes (depending on if it’s spring or fall) and leave it the heck alone!