A significant thing has occurred since last we visited. The days have begun to get longer! Yes, we’ve passed the winter solstice, and each day is now about a minute longer than the one before. However, I read an item that said the solstice was Friday, but the shortest day of 2012 actually was Saturday. This sometimes happens, it was said. May be. I’m just telling you what I read. Funny. When I was a kid, Christmas Eve was by any measure the longest day of the year. I was a greedy little monster, and I just wanted to get to all that Christmas morning loot! How I wish I could go back just once, not for the loot but for that deliciously excruciating anticipation. It was the best part.