Zomeworks held its annual Perihelion picnic on January 3rd, 2008.  Last year it was on the 4th of January.  Perihelion is promised to move forward through the calendar, one day each 57 years, but it is a hesitating back-and-forth advance.  Maybe that is why it was hazy and we did not record the usual temperatures of ambient + 100ºF for flat black surfaces facing the sun.

Joining the Zomeworks crew were guests; our neighbors Sacred Power, old timers Mike and Roberta Elliston, Bruce Davis, Carlos Proffit, Pat Gallagher, Al Zellicof , Jon Davis, Dave Menicucci and others.  We had to drag Dave Nevin, Zomeworks Production Manager, away from the press brake.

Lunch served outside worked fine, as it usually does on this, the day when we are closest to the sun.  I did not give a speech.  I would have reminded people that Perihelion is like a century had moving through our calendar.  In Perihelion time atomic power was invented a day ago, the steam engine a week ago and fire a year or two ago. I would have questioned whether it is worth celebrating such a mysterious date that takes 22,000 years to swim underwater, so to speak, through our year changing things most are not aware of.

Aren’t we glad we live in the Northern Hemisphere with the strongest sun, 7% stronger, on January 3rd instead of on July 3rd?  On occasion I have felt giddy reflecting on the slow, slow, slow progress of Perihelion through the year, imagining what July in Albuquerque would be like were the sun 7% stronger.

Here is a picture taken (by Linh Pham, Cool Cell lead) at the picnic of Danny Ray, lead welder and Zomeworks employee for more than 20 years, and Andrea Sarracino, without whom the Zomeworks office would come to a complete halt.  I have been reading about Danny’s ancestors’ successful progress on foot, six months ago Perihelion time, from Asia through out America.  My great grandfather, also on foot, spent a winter near Albuquerque about three days ago Perihelion time.

Steve Baer

January 3, 2008