Spring Forward, Fall Back.

This past weekend many (but not all) people  across the country observed Day Light Saving(s) Time and moved their clocks forward one hour.  It's a time of mixed emotions for me.  On the one hand, I love the idea of gaining more day light hours to get things done.  On the other hand, I hate loosing that hour of sleep. I usually find myself sleepwalking through my life for a few days until my internal clock realigns itself.

I'm told I have Benjamin Franklin to thank for my drowse state.  He conceived of the idea back in 1784 while in Paris as an American delegate.  It didn't get any serious consideration until the early twentieth century. Actually standard time itself was a relatively new idea.  The time was usually agreed upon by the general population of a town and it might not coincide with the time agreed upon a town or two over.  The concept of a standardized time meant trains could maintain arrival and departure schedules.  Workers and business owners had the same idea of when to show up and when to leave work.  Everyone was on the same page. 

During the wars (WWI and WWII), enacting Day Light Savings Time meant a savings of fuel.  This was what got many people on board with the idea.  Many arguments have been made through out the world both for and against this manipulation of time.  There is some debate on exactly how much fuel/electricity is saved by moving the clocks forward in the Spring and back in the Fall.

To further add to the confusion of what the time is, not everyone observes the 'Spring forward, fall back' observance.  There are even parts of this country where crossing the street puts you either forward or backwards in time.  To find out who does and who doesn't participate in this idea, check out this website:

http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/g.html

Inevitably, this time of years gets me to thinking about time in general.  I am not one of those people with an in born sense of time.  Hours whiz by in the blink of an eye for me.  I looked up one day and twelve years had passed.  The opposite side of that coin is time standing still.  I'm sure we all have experienced that slow as molasses passage of time while either sitting in the doctors office or standing in line.  In reality the same amount of time has elapsed for me as for everyone around me, but it's my perception that is altered.  There are days I'd love to make last forever and others I'd rather see leave.  

I guess that is the difference for the pro and anti day light savings time people.  It depends on which side of the hour hand you stand as to whether it is a good idea or not.