I've always loved long shadows.

Our youngest son, Jacob, was born on the winter solstice, December 21.
This is the photo I took on his 23rd birthday.

My fascination with the solstice goes back to preschool days.
I look forward to it every year, anxious for late afternoon.

The magic lasts only a moment as shadows grow impossibly long
and nature's colors are goldenized, creating a world without air.

Then the sun drops into the ground and twilight settles like coal dust.

Long shadows speak to me of looking back at the end of our lives
and measuring the difference we made.

You are making a difference.

Roy H. Williams