Times Flies No Matter Which Calendar You Use

First, let’s look at the solar calendar.

The solar calendar is where we acknowledge that Jan. 1 is always the first day of the year, and Dec. 31 is always the last day of the year. These dates do not change each year. We depend on its consistency.

It is the calendar we all use to mark time. This same calendar is also used to mark special, and not so special occasions, all the dates we need to remember. It is this calendar I depend on to ensure I remember the birthdays and anniversaries of my friends, my extended family, and of course, my immediate family.

I know what you are thinking — how can she not remember her family’s birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, or important events. Well, I will admit to you, my dear readers, my brain is so full of information (not always relevant to anything in particular), I only have room to store some portions of it.

Then, there is the issue of some of this information getting lost along the way. No matter how hard I try, I can’t find it all. (Could it all be in the one locked closet I have not checked yet?)

Hence, I employ the very tried and true method of recording everything on my paper calendar. I can’t quite trust myself in any other forms of date keeping.

Does time really fly by when you are having fun?

It is my humble opinion, whether you are having fun or are in a state of perpetual frustration, time will fly no matter what your state of mind happens to be. Trust me when I tell you time does not wait for you to catch up.

A clever and insightful good friend once shared this prophetic statement with me: after the age of 55 … 10 years pass as if it were one year. OMG he was right!

I am personally still adjusting to the fact that Chanukah 2024 is over and long gone. Chanukah 2025 will be here so soon we had better begin creating the “Chanukah wish list.”

Now, let’s look at the Shaindle calendar.

My personal calendar has a very special place in my heart; you will soon see why.

My calendar is divided into two separate segments. Part one of this calendar begins the day after Labor Day, unless Labor Day is on a Saturday, then it begins two days after Labor Day. This is otherwise known as the first day of school and concludes on June 30, otherwise known as the last day of school. Somehow, keeping this all straight has never been an issue for me.

In the second segment, you will not find the word school anywhere. There is no school during this time. This was my sacred time of the year. Summer camp was the only item on my summer agenda.

Let’s look at the Jewish calendar, which is a lunar calendar.

This calendar year begins around the same time as the first segment of my two-part calendar year. This segment is in early fall coinciding with the beginning of the school year.

The Jewish calendar does not align with the solar calendar, since the first day of the Jewish calendar changes from year to year. Truth be known, the Jewish calendar has more than one New Year.

Let’s keep this for another conversation. Calendars! How can we function without them? How would we mark time or witness time flying by?