As we age, it is clear that adapting to change can be very challenging. There are the easy changes, such as changing one’s hair color or style, deciding to try a new restaurant, or taking a class.
Then there are the more difficult changes, and in particular, the changes that occur twice a year whether one is prepared for them or not. No, I’m not referring to birthday and anniversary marital relations; I’m referring, of course, to standard and daylight savings time changes. They’re enough to throw off the circadian rhythms of our systems, and there is absolutely no known preparation one can make for such an upheaval.
According to scientists working with a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Totally Useless Information, the change to Daylight Saving Time ostensibly allows us to use less energy in lighting our homes by taking advantage of the longer and later daylight hours. Unfortunately, it is exceedingly difficult to determine energy savings from Daylight Savings Time, and based on a variety of factors, it is possible that little or no energy is saved by Daylight Savings. An additional $1.5 million would be needed to conduct further studies.
In our house, the entire debacle begins the evening before the big change. I find myself furtively glancing at the clock, trying to decide if it would be better to turn in at my usual time or wait an hour or turn in earlier depending on the fall back or leap forward time change, and I cannot for the life of me remember which is which. This dilemma involves numbers which, as you might remember from last month, is sure to result in a tension headache beginning right ’round the temples.
My husband tries to make this transition easier for me by waiting until I’m sleeping to change the clocks. This is time consuming because it involves watches, both everyday and dressy, the oven clock, the kitchen radio clock, the recorder, the microwave, stove, and, of course, both cars. There’s no end this man will not employ to keep me “normal,” and I really do appreciate that.
The following morning I’m dazed, disoriented, and totally unsure of exactly what time it is. Sue and Roland are out walking their dog, so it’s either early or late morning. Should I prepare breakfast, brunch, or just go straight to lunch?
When I decide to go to the lodge for a 9 a.m. exercise class, I find 15 people dazed and confused. Everyone wonders if we’re early or late, adding another reason to the list of why living in an Active Adult community is such a great idea: safety and sanity in numbers.
This added stress always results in a general feeling of malaise, confirming that this change affects us in every way, which is why I want to relocate to Indiana.
You have to hand it to those Hoosiers; they do not participant in this time-changing activity. It’s always 8:30 a.m. in Indianapolis when it’s supposed to be 8:30 a.m.
An Indianapolis Del Webb community would do well with Alan Alda and Ellyn Burstyn at the grand opening; the theme, of course, “Same Time, Next Year –
