It’s early March, which means two things in New England:
- We’re all pretending it’s spring even though the wind still bites.
- The annual Daylight Saving Time debate is warming up faster than the weather.
And because I can’t resist a good trivia rabbit hole, I stumbled across a Jeopardy clue that sums up our relationship with DST better than anything else:
Clue: To combat fuel shortages, Congress enacted this for almost 10 months in 1974, from
January to October.
Category: “D” in American History
Value: $600
Yes — the answer is Daylight Saving Time.
We didn’t just “spring forward” that year. We practically launched ourselves into permanent daylight.
We Tried a Long-Term Relationship… It Didn’t Go Well
The idea wasn’t new. Allegedly, Benjamin Franklin pitched something similar to save candles. Germany used it during World War I to conserve fuel. And in 1974, during the energy crisis, Congress said, “Let’s try this full-time.”
Ten months later, after dark winter mornings and a nation full of cranky schoolkids, the experiment quietly ended. But the twice‑a‑year clock shuffle? That stuck around like a houseguest who never got the hint.
Every Year We Swear We’re Done With It
By now, the pattern is predictable.
Early March rolls in, and suddenly:
- Congress floats a bill
- Someone suggests permanent DST
- Someone else suggests permanent Standard Time
- Committees form
- Studies are commissioned
- We all complain
- And nothing changes
It’s the legislative equivalent of “We should really get together sometime” — said with no intention of actually scheduling anything.
And Yet… Here We Are Again
Daylight Saving Time officially ends on the first Sunday in November, but the real cycle ends when we stop grumbling about it — which, let’s be honest, is never.
We tell ourselves it saves energy.
We tell ourselves it gives us more daylight.
We tell ourselves it’s tradition.
Mostly, we tell ourselves whatever gets us through that groggy Monday morning after the switch.
Countdown to the Clock Shuffle
So here we are, early March, inching toward the big weekend.
Coffee makers are bracing themselves.
Humans are sighing.
And the cats? Well…
Banner and Balboa are thrilled.
In their world, Daylight Saving Time is the greatest invention since the treat bag.
Breakfast arrives a whole hour earlier — a development they fully support and believe should be made permanent immediately.
If Congress ever needs motivation to finally pick a time and stick with it, they
should consult the feline lobby. Banner and Balboa have notes.
What About You?
Do you love the extra evening light, dread the clock change, or simply follow your pets’ lead and accept breakfast whenever it arrives?