May 18, 2024
I missed both of the recent appearances of the Northern Lights. On the first night, while others posted gorgeous photos, the aurora by my house was doing its best impression of clouds. The next night, I was so excited to see it that I went to my viewing spot far too early and got too cold to stay. I later learned that had I stuck it out for only an hour, I would have seen the lights.
I think that if I keep missing the aurora, it will continue to happen. You’re welcome, everyone.
Still, that second attempt was a valuable experience in its own right. I sat on my doorstep for a while, gazing at the dark-sky stars we get to see so readily in the Driftless. Then I moved to a spot farther back from the road. With insects humming, whippoorwills whipping, and unidentifiable creatures rustling in the woods nearby, the place was as alive with sound at night as it is with colorful flora in the daytime.
I just sat there and listened. (I’m not trying to evangelize here, but for those keeping score, I didn’t look at my phone.) Although I was cold, nervous at being alone, and sneezing loudly the entire time, I was content to let the experience wash over me and not try to curate my surroundings. What Northern Lights?
When I left, it was with the feeling that as long as I can sit in the natural world once in a while, everything will be okay. It’s not a radical idea: if we just stop and listen (or look, smell, taste, or feel), we will find a moment of peace. But it was a timely reminder, as peace had been hard to find that week.
The next day was Mother’s Day. Mom and I spent part of the afternoon just walking around and looking at flowering trees and shrubs, surrounded by other families who were just walking and looking. Yes, they were taking pictures, but only because this peaceful moment was an event worth remembering. I even snapped a few myself.
P.S. In case you’re wondering, I have enjoyed the Northern Lights before: as a birthday present from the universe in March of 2016.
Driftless Grace 
I was wondering what you saw from your place. I found it’s pretty nice out there because the hills face north, so you can see things just by lying in your driveway (as long as you turn off the lights in your house). I’ve been told to dress like it’s 20 degrees colder. I think almost everyone who looks up at night has that experience of getting too cold the first time or two.
I can imagine (remember) the bugs, owls, coyotes and whippoorwill. And the sound of the cows eating grass across the road.
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This is beautiful Grace. I didn’t have a chance to see the lights but getting out in nature in the river valley is special. I think we have the most beautiful cloud formation s in the world.
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