Think about this a bit. If you want to mail a letter at 2 a.m., is there a clerk waiting at the post office with a book of those fancy cat stamps? No. If a midnight re-run of "This Old House" entices you to refinish your basement, will City Hall open up at 3 a.m. and issue you a building permit? Of course not. But, when the bureaucrats want your measly hour back, when do they come for it? Just like Dickens's ghosts, they pop in at 2 a.m., move your clock forward, and then leave you sitting there in your pajamas, too riled to sleep. Well, the next time this springtime robber comes around, let's send him home empty-handed.
Here's how it works. It's the Friday afternoon right before all the spring-forward fun hits. You've been slaving all day at work, and you're more than ready to go home. Well, just move that big round clock forward one hour to 5 p.m., and you're done. Why wait until the weekend to lose that hour? Maybe, you'll want to give your hour back while you're in the dentist's chair. That's a great idea, especially if they find a cavity. "Sorry. I just noticed the time. I can't do that filling today. Come back next week?" Maybe you accidentally went to the opera, and the fat lady isn't due for an hour. Well, just clock out early, and join her for a few bars of Wagner on your way to the exit. Think about it. Does the government penalize you if you pay your taxes early? No. Do they let you vote early if you're going to be traveling? Sure they do. So, just give them their dang hour back early. If nothing else, you'll get a good night's sleep, and you may even develop an interest in attending the opera once or twice a year. Maybe...
David McCoy, a notorious storyteller and proud Yellow Jacket, lives in Conyers, can be reached at davmccoy@bellsouth.net.
