I missed the longest day of the year for the 50th time

Vern from Michigan posted about the summer solstice and sure bummed me out.

It has always been my plan that just once, just once before I die all I want to do was sit back on the longest day of the year and watch the sun go down. Just once. I'm 50 years old, and just once...watch the sun go down on the longest day of the year, and I missed it again today, tonight. Dog gone it all to heck. I missed it again. Son of a.......gun.

The closest I came was about three years ago when I remembered and planned it the whole week. It was Friday, I was working in Illinois and knew what time I had to be on the road to get home to Indiana to watch the sun go down, just me and my labradore, Lou. All was going good, got an early start on the toll road, and then it happened. Someone crashed into someone or something miles ahead and we came to a stand still and time was flashing before my eyes. I was bouncing around in the cab of my truck and yelling out my windows, "What's wrong with you people? Don't you know I have to get home to watch the sun go down? Why are you doing this to me?". I was going nuts, absolutely nuts, but finally traffic moved and I was like Mario Andretti passing and weaving through people all the way home to the middle of Indiana on the Michigan border. I raced into the house, was handed one Sam Adams, one Killians, and one Leinenkugels, all ice cold, grabbed Lou and loaded him into a trailer hooked to the back of my 4520 Deere, and took off into the middle of the bean field. I unloaded Lou, and he sat at my feet, and I stood there and opened and drank all three of those beers one by one as I watched the sun go down over the trees, disappearing into the Michigan horizon on the longest day of the year. Finally!!! It was maybe the happiest day of my life, until the following Monday.

I went to work on Monday and told this lady that I knew all about it. I was smiling from ear to ear, because I finally got to just do nothing on the longest day of the year but watch the sun go down. Woo Hoo!!! And then it happened. She pointed to the calendar at her desk and showed me that I missed it again because Friday wasn't the longest day of the year at all. The day before, Thursday was. She burst my bubble and totally deflated me. I don't know why she did that. If she didn't tell me that, I never would've known and died in peace one day. I sure wish that she hadn't...because I missed it again, and again, and again, and tonight too.

Gosh darn it to heck. Son of a gun. I am never going to get to see the sun go down on the longest day of the year. I may live to be 100, and I'm going to die without ever seeing the sun go down. Gosh darn it. 50 strikes against me.

Mark

How about catching tomorrow or the next day. You will only lose a few minutes. Just a thought.

Looks to me like you got no excuse for not living till next year.. Seems like you have to so you can see it then. that's not a bad thing....

I'm watching it go done right now. Not the prettiest sunset, but I understand what you are talking about.
The worst thing is - its all down hill for the rest of the year.
Grant

I think you're good and don't know it... not to worry. My guess is in at least 1 of those 50 years you saw the sun go down on summer solstice day.

Sorry to see you so torn up about it but if it helps any, the sun probably sets at the same time today. Look it up, it sets at exactly the same time today as it did yesterday where I'm located.

I find the best times can't be planned.

Very good story!

Not to diminish from your desire, but I don't attach as much importance to something that happens every day.

I always loved to watch the sunrise, and had to drive east every morning to work, usually catching the sun barely peeping over the horizon as I topped a high ridge on the way. A brand new day.

In the evening, crossing the same ridge, dead tired, with chores yet to do at home, the sunset didn't excite me near as much.

I do hope you get to see your sunset next year.
Paul

Go out tonight with a 12 pack of beer and watch the sun go down. You'll enjoy it just as much. Plus, tomorrow, you'll have something to "really" complain about......a headache.

Actually at my latitude (45 degrees N) the sun sets one minute later tonight than last night and is the same until July l. Comes up same time each day until June 25th, according to my game and fish sunrise sunset tables.

Hate to bring you down further, but if you turned 50 before yesterday, you've actually missed it 51 times (once before your 1st birthday, and 50 times thereafter).

ROFLMAO, good one Mark... What about the sunrise, don't you want to see both ends of the longest daylight day?

Naw, I want to sleep in that day. Grin.

Mark

All depends where you reside,I'm going uphill, down South.Just had the shortest day.