“The Days Get Longer by a Minute” -- Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

“The Days Get Longer by a Minute” -- Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

It never fails. Someone always calls me on the day after the winter solstice. Years ago, Dad was the first, chuckling with his confident quip, “Edward, from now on, each day gets longer by a minute.” I loved the call, because behind every upbeat urge like Dad’s, there was hope.

But when will those days be noticeably longer? When the winter days dwindle to April, I get an itch to escape the house, and for longer times. I want it warm.

December 21st, the first official day of winter, marks the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere and the time when darkness occupies as much as it can before finally giving way to the increasing daylight of spring.

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OK, I appreciate the fact that solstices are important astrological events. One cycle ends and another begins. I look to that cycle when I think of baseball; the time that jolts us from dark days to seasonal sounds of hits and mitts, balls and strikes. That long night is over. The sun mounts its comeback, and I see buds, hear birds.

Dad was an optimist. He was a Pisces, a personality defined by an investigational nature and forte. When I read of his sign, I thought, “He is hardly that.” Rather, he had what seemed like a non-inquisitive, predictable routine . . . same meals, same time, daily visit for coffee with friends, same car, same clothes, etc. I was wrong.

What we realized in his later years was that he was ever ready and willing to try something new and different --- travel to Italy’s countryside, different dishes in a restaurant, shopping, a new car, venturing far and wide to follow the game. Very adaptable, his personality accepted diversions, and stresses. It was always better tomorrow.  He was passionate about his work and intense in his love of family, so he devoted his time and energy to those things he valued.

So, yes, he fit the Pisces personality well; selfless, always willing to help others, expecting nothing in return.

When he was with us, as the days lengthened and the shadows shortened, we began to look forward to my sons’ baseball games. Every time I saw him, it was --- The days get shorter.  --- Yes, Dad, I know. His face brightened when it was game time.

April baseball, when, because the days are longer, one might expect warmer weather. Nope. My Dad and I watched many a game wearing ski parkas, gloves, scarves, and caps. We sat, momentarily, on ice cold, punishing aluminum stands. Back and forth we trekked to the car, turning the engine, blasting the heater, then out again.

“These games are great,” he chuckled. “At least it gets me out of the house.”

“It’s cold. Are you ready to leave?”

“No way!”

Yes, after the 21st, the days will lengthen by a minute. We’ll be moving closer to spring. The old leaves are off the trees, making room for the new ones.

We will have a vaccine.

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli is the author of three popular memoirs, “Growing up Italian; Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories”, “What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner” and “My Story Continues: From Neighborhood to Junior High.”  Learn more here.