Many of us who work office jobs this time of year can go days without seeing the sun. Especially if it’s constantly overcast, as it’s been here lately. It’s pretty depressing. (I don’t know how night-shift workers manage.) My sister and I often compare our situation to the Ray Bradbury short story “All Summer In a Day.” As in, “We’re on that planet where the sun comes out once every seven years.” We both read this story, and saw the movie version, sometime in late elementary school or early middle school – and were both scarred for life. It’s a brilliant story with excellent discussion points, but neither of us has ever gotten past the horror of only seeing the sun once every seven years. Or being kept from seeing it even then. I thought maybe we, as native Floridians and SAD sufferers, were oversensitive, but every time Debra mentions it to someone, they remember being upset by it too.
So readers: did you read or watch “All Summer In a Day” in school? Has it affected you long-term, or not? :)
By the way, I got a sun lamp last winter (on clearance at Walgreens) and it’s really helped me! I keep it on my desk and turn it on for about an hour a day during the dark months. With the lamp, I feel perkier and sleep better. I also heard that the FDA just increased the “safe” dosage of Vitamin D, but I don’t know the particulars yet.
I love cloudy, dark days! :-D
I love Bradbury, have since I was 12 or so when my mom introduced me to him. A lot of his stuff is dark, though. Have you read the story of the planet where it does nothing but rain? All the plants (of which there is an abundance) are a whitish color, and if you stay still long enough, they’ll grow over you. Located in different places on the planet these people are on are sun houses (or something of that nature) where an artificial sun shines down on everything in it. The story is of these three (I think) guys and their journey to find one. If you’re interested, I’ll find the title for you, but you might not like it since the other story has stuck with you so long.
And I like the other story, but what they do to that poor girl is awful. I’ve never seen the movie, though.
I have not seen, nor heard, of that movie/book. It sounds interesting and yet, maybe depressing.
I had a friend with a sun lamp and she said the same things you did about yours.
I am very blessed to work from home and don’t take for granted that I have access to whatever the weather. I do, however, remember those dark winter months when I had an office job and it was tough! Especially in New England where it’s dark by about 3:30 in the winter. Blehh. Loved certain aspects of the NE, but not that one.
Carol, I think I would be interested in that! It sounds happier than this story. :)
R, that’s why I could never live much further north. :)
I don’t remember reading that story as a child, but within the last couple months I read it with a 5th grade girl I tutor. It sure does help put things in perspective, and helps me appreciate the little things in life, like the big window I have in my classroom. I may get to school before sunrise and leave after it sets (in the winter), but at least I see it all day!
The 5th grade teacher pulls out that story when she sees bullying in her class. It does provide opportunity for discussion! I’m still feeling horrible on behalf of the girl.
Yeah, it is a very effective anti-bullying story. I think you’d have to be made of stone not to be moved by it.