The first spring in which I was living in Amsterdam, I totally missed the time change (because I had not yet realized that it was different from the American time change, which happened at a different time).  I was on my way to a soccer game at the Museumplein when my friend Steve called me and asked why I hadn't shown up to play soccer like I promised I would.  The tardiness turned out to be of no great consequence; still it was kind of embarrassing.  Steve mocked me mercilessly for the next several weeks.

In subsequent years, my friend Todd showed up late to church -- on weeks in which he was scheduled to preach -- not once, but on two separate occasions!  On each of the occasions, we were able to scramble up a plan to cover for his tardiness so that it turned out to be of no great consequence; still it was kind of awkward.  I mocked him mercilessly for years afterwards, whenever there was another switch to "summer time."

So as a public service to all of my European-based readers, I just want to make sure that you realize that I'm not telling these stories purely for the sake of amusement.  This weekend is the weekend in which the clocks are set ahead one hour.  If you're reading this, then, and you haven't set your clocks forward -- now might be a good time for you to do that! If you miss it, it probably will turn out to be of no great consequence; still it might become a bit awkward or embarrassing for you if you're "that guy" who forgets.  There's always somebody, every year.  But maybe this year it doesn't have to be you. :-)

You're welcome.