The Dance of Light

September 1, 2016. I got a message from a colleague that the Aurora Borealis would be strong tonight so I planned for the night/early morning viewing. I decided to go to bed at 10pm, clothed, and set my alarm for 2am. I fell out of bed at 2am feeling a bit "loopy" from my four hour nap, put on a coat, grabbed my camera, and went outside into the cold. I was still at the Cantwell RV Park so it was not completely dark but much darker than most areas in Western Washington. I had set my camera up to take photos, I thought, but I couldn't figure out how to get the live screen to work. After too many failed attempts I grabbed my phone to try taking photos with it.

As I stood outside in the cobble-filled parking lot I could see bands of what seemed like thinly veiled clouds at the horizon. I tried taking photos to no avail. Then the clouds came alive and I grabbed my phone and became mesmerized by the spectacular dance of light all around me. Swirling and twirling the entire starry night sky came alive. Lit up all around me the light cascaded like so many misty waterfalls down to the earth disappearing into the dark. For several moments the entire night sky came alive with the opaque dance. I didn't see any color in the lights but that didn't make the dance any less fantastic. (Actually the camera's "eye" catches the colors we can't see).

The spectacular dance of the Aurora Borealis captured my heart and spirit even in my loopy state (maybe that helped!). I stayed outside until I felt the cold seep into my bones. It was hard to pull myself away even though there was a break in the dance. It might start up again dazzling those who can feel it or maybe it's done for the night. I am so grateful for this moment. Describing these lights is impossible. Experiencing them is the only to feel them. Videos and photos are beautiful, more so once you've seen them in person.

Welcome September; the month of my birth and the time of Autumnal equinox. 

The wonders of the planet never cease to amaze and delight me and never will.

Postscript: I stayed up for the light show the next two nights however, they were nowhere near as amazing as this night. And apparently this night they were also amazing at 11pm. I found that out later when one of the folks at the RV park showed me their blurry photos on a cell phone. I was unsuccessful in getting photos.