The days just came and went until May of 1980. That’s the year I first noticed spring. I sprawled in my red PE shorts on a patch of soft green grass and thought about how good the sun’s warmth felt on the back of my neck.

In November of 1989 I noticed snow—really took note of it and how much I liked it and danced in it for the first time. I still dance the first time it falls each year.

Today I noticed the shortening of the days—how the sun comes later and later and leaves sooner and sooner, and I decided that one of the best things about Christmas is that the days are getting longer again and we’re four days closer to spring.