It seems that just as the first promise of warmer weather arrives, the walkers come out in force. Today was that day. Driving home at about five, just as the shadows get long I spied more than a few folks out strolling. Couples that I don’t usually see together were out on the sidewalk. People I’ve never seen before were walking. What is it about this time of day?
Infants and young children tend to fuss the most at 5:00. I truly think that’s why happy hour was invented. My own parents, who had eight children, rarely wavered from the 5:00 cocktail. Eight children – who could begrudge them that? I’m sure it was the only time of day they had to connect with each other, but the vodka tonic probably helped them cope with the 5:00 mayhem surrounding their moment together.
Elderly people have a hard time at 5:00. It’s called sundowning and I can recall my Mom in her final days getting very confused and flustered around that time. (I can’t imagine what it must be like in a nursing home at that hour of day. I wonder if they double up on the staff to deal with it.)
It seems my neighbors get restless at about 5:00. Perhaps they’re trying to experience those last moments of light before the night chill sets in. Or sucking one last bit of joy out of their weekend. I wonder what they'll do when they get home.