Pink Clouds and a Patch of Blue

While yesterday may not have technically been the longest day of the year, it certainly seemed like it (in the DC area anyway). Between the endless rain, the washed-out roads, the quiet office (due to the washed-out roads), the traffic, the downed trees and electric lines, the flooded buildings (both residential and federal), and the general mess this crazy weather has caused, yesterday most definitely seemed to be a VERY long day!

After all that rain, all I wanted this morning was to see the sun! Of course, I knew that was not going to happen. The weathermen had already warned us that we are still under flash flood warnings until tonight. So I prepared for the worst... wore black, pulled my hair back in a headband (this humidity creates quite a 'fro for me), and grabbed an umbrella as I headed out the door to work. As I drove over the bridge on my way to work, I noticed some color in the eastern sky - could it be?! There is was, bright as day... pink clouds where the sun was rising. I obviously could not see the sun through all the clouds and did not expect to, but just knowing the sun was still there behind all those clouds gave me reason to hope that the sun would in fact shine again. The rest of the ride was a pleasant one as I contemplated happy thoughts of summer. I walked up to the HQ building, still caught up in my own ponderings, and glanced up as I am in the habit of doing (since I have no windows anywhere near my office, it is the last glimps of the outside world I get to see until I leave in the afternoon). To my great delight, I saw a small patch of blue sky directly above me. It may not have been much, but even if it is pouring out there right now, I don't know it - I am still carrying a picture of a small patch of blue around with me... and it makes me happy.

Speaking of the longest day of the year... have you ever wondered why it is called Summer Solstice? Well, wonder no more. I decided to look it up - the word "solstice" comes from the Latin "sol" = sun, and "sistere" = to stand still. The sun moves north until the beginning of summer and south until the beginning of winter. The moment it takes to switch direction, the sun stands still, hence the name.