How long does a person have to wait until the fireworks start? From Miami to San Diego, the show begins around 9 PM, when the sky is dark. However, earlier events draw people into the parks and other venues. By about 8 PM, kids are getting worn out from dancing around. Everyone is achy from sitting on the grass or in droopy folding chairs. The snacks and cold drinks, consumed. That last hour seems like an eternity. Finally, the show begins. Fireworks!

In Northern Washington or Idaho, fireworks start at 10 PM, in a sky that still has a few light streaks. By 8 PM, kids are getting worn out up here too, but parents must wait 2 more hours for the fireworks. The next morning, those kids up here might crawl out of bed at 4:30 AM and wake up mom. She opens one eye and notices that the sky is light already.

That is July 4 in the northern part of the northern states. I love it! And since I go to bed around 9:30 or 10, I don’t see much darkness–only if and when I wake up in the middle of the night.

We know from research that low daylight hours–which will be here soon enough in this land of daylight extremes– affects our hormone production and may result in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This makes for a moody population all winter. Is the reverse true? Does lots of sunlight make us happier? More chipper? Less likely to snip at the person walking by whose dog agitates my dog, who knocks over my table, which flings all my thread spools onto the ground (true story)?

Yes! Also, getting only 5-15 hours of sunlight on your arms, face, legs will dramatically increase Vitamin D levels, which plays a role in bone health. Early research suggests that sunlight helps in reducing/healing rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and thyroiditis.

Excessive sunlight leads to skin cancers, but it is worse for those who don’t get enough sun. Those who have fewer daylight hours are more prone to colon cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.

Obviously, moderate sunlight is the ticket and/or lots of sunscreen. At this time of year, I carry mine everywhere and spend hours and hours outdoors. Soon enough, this land of long summer days will be shrouded in darkness. As the world turns!