Bay Shore NY
11-01-2022 8:42pm

November - A Time to Give Thanks and the Return of Standard Time

SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - A TIME TO GIVE THANKS AND THE RETURN OF STANDARD TIME

Welcome November (Novembre in Italian). The weather is changing and so are the clocks. This weekend, we set our clocks back one hour and return to Standard Time (ST). At least we gain an hour. Daylight Savings Time (DST) could become permanent eventually, but that bill hasn't past just yet. Our lawmakers are still deliberating. Which would you prefer? Permanent DST or ST? It's been a long time since Standard Time was standard. It's flipped-flopped back and forth over the years as I think most of us prefer more daylight. It's good for the farmers and the children.

The idea of aligning waking hours to daylight hours to conserve candles (I burn them all the time) was first proposed in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin. In a satirical letter to the editor of The Journal of Paris, Franklin suggested that waking up earlier in the summer would economize on candle usage; and calculated considerable savings. In 1895, New Zealand entomologist and astronomer George Hudson proposed the idea of changing clocks by two hours every spring to the Wellington Philosophical Society. In 1907, British resident William Willett presented the idea as a way to save energy. After some serious consideration, it was not implemented. 

In 1908, Port Arthur in Ontario, Canada, started using DST. Starting on April 30, 1916, the German Empire and Austria-Hungary each organized the first nationwide implementation in their jurisdictions. Many countries have used DST at various times since then, particularly since the 1970's energy crisis. DST is generally not observed near the Equator, where sunrise and sunset times do not vary enough to justify it. Some countries observe it only in some regions: for example, parts of Australia observe it, while other parts do not. Conversely, it is not observed at some places at high latitudes, because there are wide variations in sunrise and sunset times and a one-hour shift would relatively not make much difference. The United States observes it, except for the states of Hawaii and Arizona (within the latter, however, the Navajo Nation does observe it, conforming to federal practice). A minority of the world's population uses DST; Asia, Africa, and Latin American and the Caribbean generally do not.

While DST gives us longer light hours in summer (ah, those summer nights), clock shifts can sometimes complicate timekeeping, disrupt travel, and sleep patterns. Quite frankly, I don't feel any negative effects from the time change, but a lot of people do. This should make those people happy! There's always someone who comes to work late saying, "I forgot to change my clock." Are you one of those people? I hope not. We should be used to this by now. 

November is also the month of Thanksgiving. The time of year when we gather together to give thanks for the goodness and grace in our lives and for the family and friends who give our lives meaning. It's a time for forgiveness and compassion and love for our country and our forefathers who founded our great land. It's a time to embrace the abundance and good fortune that envelopes our collective lives. 

In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the "New World." After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing, that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

And the rest is history. November is a special month. As we settle into Autumn and prepare for the holiday season, let's take some time to be thankful and grateful for the experience of life. It is a gift. It is sacred. And it is something we should cherish and celebrate. Hallelujah!

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, every day is a blessing that we should not take for granted. 

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - MILLERIDGE INN

An official pardoning ceremony will take place this week on Long Island of a red-orange headed turkey named “Trump.” The historic Milleridge Inn, originally built in 1692, has held a turkey pardon each Thanksgiving holiday for the past decade. This year, more than 2,000 turkeys will be served over the holiday at the historic restaurant. It’s also one of the largest and oldest Thanksgiving gatherings in the State of New York. The Milleridge Inn is located at 585 North Broadway in Jericho on Long Island. For reservations, call 516-931-2201.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - NOVEMBER RAIN BY GUNS AND ROSES

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darling when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothing lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time
Just trying to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's letting go today
Walking away
If we could take the time
To lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowing that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
Then darling don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walking
In the cold November rain
Do you need some time... on your own
Do you need some time... all alone
Everybody needs some time... on their own
Don't you know you need some time all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you
Sometimes I need some time... on my own
Sometimes I need some time... all alone
Everybody needs some time... on their own
Don't you know you need some time all alone
And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothing lasts forever
Even cold November rain
Don't you think that you need somebody
Don't you think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one
Don't you think that you need somebody
Don't you think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one
Don't you think that you need somebody
Don't you think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one
Don't you think that you need somebody
Don't you think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody...

I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores in the area. You can also watch my first Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features topics covered in my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well as my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Wednesday morning. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.

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