Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

("..does anybody really care...")

I received an email from a good friend in Ohio yesterday, who made some reference to the coming of spring and asked me if our winter had been as mild as Ohio's this year.

?

It's autumn here, not spring.

Yesterday was the equinox - one of 2 days in the year when the total daylight hours equals the total nighttime hours. And, interestingly, it's a time when the same thing is happening on both the north and south hemispheres. But here, the days are growing shorter. Above the equator, the opposite is happening.

Then there are the solstices. On the day when Australia has the summer solstice, above the equator the same day is the winter solstice. Same day, opposite seasons. I don't think I've ever had much trouble keeping track of that - but I know it causes considerable confusion for my friends up north.

Then there's daylight savings time. Brace yourself...

In America, the powers-that-be declared the change over from daylight savings time a little over a week ago. Here the swap (which will go in the opposite direction) hasn't happened yet. We'll be changing on April 1.

This is always an extra fun time, because the number of hours that Australia is ahead changes, making the calculation of "what time is it there?" more challenging. Throughout my summer, it's been easy. If it's noon here, it's 8pm in Ohio (in January). But now, with Ohio changing their clocks, if it's noon here, it's 9pm in Ohio. On April 1, when we change our clocks, noon in Melbourne = 10pm in Ohio.

Confused? You should hear the conversations between me and my mother (who has never quite gotten the grasp of it all).

Mom: "Can you call me next Wednesday at 8pm?"
Me: "Yup. No problem, Mom."
Mom: "What time will it be there when you call?"
Me: "Twelve."
Mom: "Midnight?"
Me: "No, noon."
Mom: "Oh! Noon on Wednesday."
Me: "No, noon on Thursday."
Mom: "But I want you to call me on Wednesday..."
Me: "I will, Mom."