Morning Musings

Mornings in the winter in Fairbanks are much different than any morning I have ever experienced. First, you must get used to the darkness that lingers until almost lunchtime. If you were to look outside at three in the morning and at eight in the morning, you would see no difference. But with my amazing dawn simulator( a nightlight that dims to represent sunset and brightens in the morning before your alarm goes off, to represent the sunrise), things get a bit easier as you get used to them.
As we inch closer to December 21, Winter Solstice, Fairbanks is losing about seven minutes a day of sunlight. That means within ten days we lose over an hour of our sunlight, making it easier to know when lunchtime is (when the sun comes up). By the time Winter Solstice actually does come around, we will only see about three and a half hours of sunlight a day, from about eleven to around two thirty, YIKES!!!
While many take showers to wake them up, or drink coffee to get a nice buzz in the morning, my wake up medicine is the frigid cold that I step out into every day to start the car. If it snowed the night before, I brush all the snow off and make sure the windshield wipers aren't stuck and that my keyhole hasn't frozen over. If I know it is going to be an extremely cold night, twenty five to forty below (or worse), then I have to get up about twenty minutes earlier so that the car is nice and warm and functions properly.
There is an elementary school just two blocks away from where I live and every morning I pass it on my way to work. Like most schools, there is a crosswalk guy who stands out on the corner, assuring that each child crosses safely. This is another job I would not want to have. No matter what the temperature is, this guy is always out helping the public. He makes my day a little bit better every time I pass through because he does a nice bow, one foot behind the other, taking his cap off and graciously crossing it over his chest. For someone who has to stand outside in the winter cold all morning, I commend him.
One of the hardest parts about the morning drive is making sure I don't slip off the road with all the snow and ice built up on the concrete. You must give yourself ample amount of time to move into a lane or cross an intersection, as well as room between yourself and other cars. An immediate stop by anyone can create a huge pile-up or just a slippery confusion for all involved. When turning corners you must take your time and make sure a bike tire doesn't catch a small curb and your backside goes flying out behind you. But, sometimes I let the curb hit my tire and have a little fun pretending I can actually drift. I know mom, not safe.