Monday Mail: Let's all ban together after the solstice

Time is a jet plane, it moves too fast. And it's Monday Mail.

Bob

Today's opening is from Bob Dylan's "Big Girl Now" on his "Blood on the Tracks" album.

Winter

A reader tells me I did not note the date that marks the astronomical beginning of winter:

OMG! The Chitwood was so busy composing his Holiday letter he forgot to regale us with his biannual dissertation on the Equinox. Don't know how I survived this one.

rjm

Dear rjm:

You mean the solstice. The equinox starts fall and spring, not winter and summer.

Happy holidays

Here's an email regarding a report on locals swarming a drop-off point for families left homeless by an apartment fire. The headline said folks were "banning" together rather than "banding" together to help the displaced:

I believe you meant to use "banding" together, rather than "banning" together.

Hermel D. Fortin.

Dear Hermel:

First I must say I'm honored you wrote me, because I love Hermel chili.

People can "ban" together, like with gay marriage or images of Mohammed.

Sleep if off

Here's an email for all you new parents:

Dear Tim,

Like every new parent, you've probably heard the usual jargon spoken about sleep and babies. Some well-meaning soul has likely told you that parenting and exhaustion are synonymous.... Even worse, perhaps someone has even judged you as indulgent, selfish or, the ultimate of insults, a bad parent because you want more sleep. Somehow we have come to find ourselves living in a world where busy equals important and sleep is only for the faint of heart. Our world has become a place where sleep is placed on the bottom of our never-ending to do lists.

The Certified Child Sleep Consultants at SleepWell Baby are so passionate about what they do because they know how important sleep is to both you and your child ...

As we begin this New Year, why not make sleep a priority for everyone in your family? The SleepWell Baby consultants are sharing their 10 reasons why you should put sleep on your to-do list this year . Best Regards,

Giselle Diaz.

Dear Giselle:

I have a special dog who makes me feel like a new parent every morning, but she's not why I lose sleep.

Just being able to lie contentedly with your eyes closed is a blessing, I've learned from work stress.

You don't have to have a baby to figure that out.

Tim Chitwood, tchitwood@ledger-enquirer.com, 706-571-8508.

This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Monday Mail: Let's all ban together after the solstice ."