Our Fall equinox will be celebrated in the northern hemisphere on September 23 rd. This day along with the spring equinox are the two days that the sun rises in due east and sets due west. In my Brazilian sister’s home, Sao Paulo, Brazil, the angle of the sun’s rising and setting are the same as in my part of the world. In the southern hemisphere, the days will lengthen until around Christmas. The day will be six hours longer than our winter. The days will be a mere nine hours in length of sunlight, from dawn to dusk.
When I had daylight driving, I had to leave my home as soon as I could see. The workday had no lunch so I could leave work during dusk. My boss allowed me to work less than 40 hours in the winter, working longer days in the summer.
Now, I occasionally, miss the brilliant colors of sunsets, but my memories enhance my imagined setting suns. The northern part of my state has displays of the northern light. The colors are curtains of movement. They travel horizontally across the sky, moving from left to right to left in curtains of greens, blues and purples. This is best seen on a clear winter evening with little or no moon.
The southern hemisphere has a similar light displayed during the months of June, July and August. They are the same form and color as the northern lights.
There are many legends about this phenomenon. The Vikings believed the lights were dead bands of warriors traveling to Valhalla. The Eskimos enjoyed the light . They watched as their tribal family celebrated. were they were the spirits of family dancing in the sky. Some Indian people saw the lights as unborn generations of the tribes. Whatever the believe the northern lights were a good omen to many indigenous people.
Today, I am thinking about my Brazilian sister Adelia on her birthday. meeting her fifty years ago. Though many years have passed, I will always keep you in my thoughts and prayers. The following poem is for you.
Adelia
A tiny woman with dark eyes and long hair, smiled at me.
Delighted to meet her American sister at last.
Even though we were three years apart, we bonded.
Long letters and visits kept us close.
I have grown old but memories endure.
Always, you will be my beautiful South American sister.
Love always.
carolaspot@aol.com
September 18, 202
Happy Birthday my special sister.
traveling up and down the blind highway 