The Winter Solstice

2001

Ken Lester

Alerted by a message from fellow JSCAS member Dennis Webb on the list server, Lisa and I were reminded that the up-coming Winter Solstice could be observed at the central plaza of the Sylvan Rodriguez park, just off Clear Lake City Blvd in Clear Lake. The plaza features a labyrinth based on the medieval design found at Chartres Cathedral in France as well as portals through which the rising and setting sun passes on the longest and shortest days of the year. As luck would have it, I was scheduled off that Friday and Lisa was on Christmas break from her school.

We awoke before sun rise and got out the cold weather gear. As we drove down to the park we speculated on whether any other JSCAS members might be there. There was a single vehicle in the parking lot and five people walking the labyrinth dressed in costumes and carrying candles. The area was bathed in a mist rising from the small lake at the park. It was a very peaceful, surreal scene.

We were warmly welcomed to walk the maze with them. As we completed the walk we introduced ourselves to the other participants. They were Dixie Friend Gay, her husband Ron, and children Hagen and Garland. An artist friend of Dixie's was also introduced but unfortunately I am unable to remember her name.

As it turns out, Dixie is an artist and was the designer of the central plaza at the park. While we waited for the sun to rise, we learned that the plaza was not exactly as she had designed. The granite portals, quarried in North Dakota, should have been rough hewn like the benches and a couple of trees were placed in the wrong location. But hopefully the engineers had laid out the portals correctly.

Dixie's friend was the first to spot the bright point of light rising between the two stones of the portal. A cheer went up from Dixie and her family as each of them glimpsed the Sun. A wonderful reward for an outstanding design.

The Sun rose quickly. The point of light quickly became a ball of fire as more and more of the Sun inched above the horizon. The point of the Sun's first appearance was slightly left of the midpoint between the portal stones when viewed from the center of the plaza but it was definitely between the stones.

It is always a pleasure meeting new friends. In this case we were able to share Dixie's joy as her planning and design proved to be right on target. This was a special morning for us. We can't wait for June to watch the Sun rise through the summer solstice portal. Hopefully, Dixie and her family will be there too.

Dixie has a web site at http://www.dixiefriendgay.com/ .