I don't think that I am in a good position to appreciate the alaskan solstice. In fact I feel a little guilty, like I'm one of the animals in the little red hen story who didn't help cut the grain but wants to eat the bread. (Um, maybe I know my children's stories too well.) I haven't suffered through an alaskan winter to really be able to appreciate the solstice. It's been sunny since I showed up so I've kind of started taking it for granted. Solstice is a good opportunity for everyone to be a little pagan and dance around a bonfire. Not being much of a reveler this time of year, I will be asleep by the time the sun actually sets tonight. Merriam-Webster reminded me today of the word "estival." (And when I say "reminded" I actually mean "taught" since I hadn't met estival until this morning.) Estival is an adjective meaning "of or relating to summer" which I think means that you can use it in place of summer whenever you want to sound fancy as in "What a beautiful, estival dusk!" Or maybe, "I hope you enjoy the estival solstice!" I don't know about the use of estival, but I do hope you enjoy the solstice!