What I Learned From Daylight Savings Time

Because I grew up in a non-"let's change the time of day at our whim" state, the annual central time zone's "fall back" keeps me on my circadian-stimulated toes. Each year I learn something new about myself and the world around me. This year was no exception.

Today's commute home from work in the newly-dim DST world of Chicagoland taught me the following:

• This was the first time I had actually taken my "regular" train home since the time change. I really have been travelling quite a bit recently.
• People walking to the train station in downtown Chicago get a bit more frantic as the sun goes down.
• Riding the train while it is dark is strangely relaxing.
• Completing a sudoku puzzle while listening to your ipod is an oddly zen experience.
• Zen experiences block out the things around you.
• Those things include the passing of your train station.
• Missing your train station enables you to meet new people.
• These people are not necessarily cheerful in the dark after a long day of work.
• Walking home from the next train station only adds 0.5 miles to your commute.
• Those 0.5 miles are pure deep suburbia, with very few street lights.
• Wearing black from head to toe like the people in the city is not recommended for people trying to cross the street in the burbs at night.
• Even though it is completely dark outside, you can still see your breath.
• You really should have a hat when it's 37 degrees outside, even if you do get off at the right train station.