Daylight Saving Time: The Power of Growing Older

Following the shift of time from Standard to Daylight Savings Time, Mr. Berner sets out to measure his days and examine what makes him appreciate the time he has as he ages. He learns to take in the small joys he finds in everyday things and dream of new adventures while realizing that the days ahead may be more numbered than those behind. The fact that he had a serious heart attack at the age of fifty-six always reminds him that life is precious and we cannot waste the time we do have.

Throughout this memoir, we get a glimpse into his life, whether doing chores for his son or simply enjoying a cup of coffee at his local cafe. It is easy for the reader to appreciate the joy he takes in the ordinary and the mundane as he chronicles the months that pass as the season takes on more light and a sense of rebirth.

I loved hearing about his long-held desire to visit Scotland and his interest in running a bookstore there, if only while on holiday. He also had a much-anticipated journey scheduled to New Mexico, where he longed to feel the desert sun and experience the spectacular star-studded sky at night. And who isn’t interested in learning more about our ancestry these days? Family legends and tales sparked his interest in the topic, but his DNA test confirmed all that he had expected and a little more.

The lovely prose and the ability to find meaning and pleasure in so many of his daily activities made this work feel like I was wrapping myself up in a cozy blanket. Not only was it beautifully written but I think most readers will be left pondering about the journey we call life by the end. Mr. Berner’s thoughts and words encouraged me to relax a little and enjoy what life has to offer because you never know what might be waiting around the corner.

It’s optimistic, and I think it captures an element of the human spirit that is often overlooked these days as we hurry through our work week. But most of all, it made me wish this book hadn’t ended. Hopefully, Mr. Berner will have another opportunity to share more of his stories with readers in the future. But for now, this is a memoir that I will definitely remember.