Every
so often, I’ll head outside at night and sit for a while on our
deck.
I
usually don’t turn on the lights, since part of the reason I’m
headed there is to gaze at the stars. And tonight, that brought
about a pretty special few minutes.
It
started with a bottle of liqueur Terry and I found on vacation
a few years ago. It’s a wonderfully smooth coffee caramel pecan
blend, and I had poured a bit into a glass to bring out with me.
Next
door, our neighbor had a small fire burning. I could hear young
voices, and the idea of holiday family gatherings brought on a
smile.
In
the distance, the first fireflies of the year were dancing about.
Not many. In two or three weeks the yard will be a dazzling array
of firefly fireworks, but for now it was enough to bring on a
thought of upcoming days.
I
found a seat on the deck, settled in and enjoyed almost an hour
out there. The fire burned out next door, the fireflies continued
their performance, and a few shooting stars were visible. Past,
present and future swirling around in my mind.
I
think we all have a place we look toward for solitude, security
and comfort. In fairness, we may or may not be alone when we enter
that zone, but it’s a place where we can clear minds and recharge
ourselves.
In
all sincerity, I was simply expecting a star-filled sky. Stare
for a bit and maybe put some constellations in order. A glass
of something nice to sip on was the anticipated bonus. I ended
up with a lot more from the experience on this occasion.
Am
I looking too deeply into things by finding connections between
the origin of the liqueur in our house and the shooting stars
overhead? Perhaps. But I’m not looking to evaluate the accuracy
or consider coincidences. As I told a friend recently about something
else where I had drawn some cheerful thoughts… water misting in
the air from the house, sunny sky above, rainbow appears, it’s
not exactly like spotting a moose tapdancing across the lawn with
a bouquet of balloons. What I get from the experience is what
I get from it, and I’m choosing the smile accompanied by a warmth
of reassurance.
How
do you find moments like this for yourself?
Do
you curl up with a good book? Maybe your peace is with the headphones
on and music really loud. I’ll bet a few of you build a fire in
the yard and invite some friends over to talk into the night.
Whatever
you do, I hope you are finding moments like I stumbled into tonight.
It was an unexpected and delightful combination that meant a lot
to me. It was an evening I needed in more ways than I care to
admit (and, frankly, don’t even care to acknowledge I have hoped
I might find).
These
quiet moments don’t need to be truly quiet. They don’t need to
be spent alone. They just need to bring you a bit of good cheer.
Have
a good night… and a wonderful tomorrow.