Today’s nine am diversion was taking Larkin to pick blueberries at our friend’s magnificent patch of high bush plants. For today’s late entertainment we made it to the pool at just 4:51 EDT, the moment that marks the solstice. As we slipped into the water it felt like the pause of the season. Our body temperatures dropped and we eased ourselves into summer mode. Even thought, scientifically, the solstice happened today, personally the solstice and longest day of the year is still marked for me on the 21st–so one more shard to come.
![](https://www.catherinewhite.com/roughideas/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20-summer-2024-1024x601.jpg)
summer solstice
will be significant
im going to release something
soft and radiant
and true
into the world
–Jenny Zhang in My Baby First Birthday, Tin House Books, 2020