I have just learned that there is an independent country in the central Pacific Ocean, which consists of 32 atolls and one raised coral island. Stretched across three island groups (Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line) Kiribati used to straddle the international dateline until, in 1995, it skewed the IDL eastward, to ensure that all its (formerly British) islands were on the same calendar date. Samoa and Tokelau did the same thing, which is why the line we cross that flips the calendar date is not straight like the neighboring 180th meridian, but irregular like countries.
I went down this rabbit hole because in a few hours I will be flying to Tokyo and while I will be cruising at 35,000 feet westward for 11 hours, Japan’s clocks will tick 17 hours ahead, which means I lose a day nestled in my cramped little seat against the window watching the view of the Pacific far below, or more likely, clouds. I’ll regain the day on the return, of course, and more than that because stuffed in my carry-on bag, which is all I have and currently weighs 16 pounds, I will have packed dozens of stories that are both weightless and timeless. So long after the memories of today’s flight has diminished, I’ll have yesterday’s stories to take out like a box of eternal chocolates to share with friends tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.
Why are you going there so far way? Whew!
Safe travels, whatever the date.