The Solstice Eve

Tomorrow is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. Which means today is the eve of the longest day. The almost-longest day. The day before the peak of summer light.

There’s something I love about solstice eve that I don’t quite love about the solstice itself. The solstice is the arrival. The eve is the anticipation — and anticipation, when it’s the good kind, is its own pleasure. You know something beautiful is coming. It’s right there. One more night.

Tonight, if you can, go outside when it’s getting late and notice how long the light holds on. Nine o’clock and it’s still not fully dark. The world refusing to let summer go. Let that be the whole thing for a few minutes. Just the long light and the warm air and the eve of the longest day.

Tomorrow, the turning begins. Tonight, we’re still on the way up.

Tonight we’re still on the way up. Let the long light hold you for a while.

What’s your favorite thing about summer evenings specifically?