Dear Timekeepers,

We tried to explain Daylight Savings to our six-year old, but she was a little confused. She thought the clocks somehow changed themselves or that time itself stopped. (She’s seen Beauty and the Beast too many times.)

No, the world keeps spinning and the sun keeps rising and setting, but humans decide what to call it and how to keep track of it. And our ability to get everyone in the country (except Arizona and Hawaii) and a lot of the world to turn their clocks back an hour is a miracle. And it’s not just a miracle of clocks or technology; it’s a miracle of human communication and coordination.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck