For the friends...

I came home this evening from Charlottesville, from class. The drive back was so tough. Just from being tired, I fought for concentration to keep the truck in the right lane at the right time.

I pulled into the driveway, but I didn't pull all the way in, so I failed to trigger the security flood light which usually guides my feets into the house. And, since I left late for class, I had neglected to leave the usual indoor lights on.

So, there is the dark. Syria Dark. This is our first truly clear, moonless night in some time, unobscured by clouds or mist from humidity. And there it was--all around me. Pitch black darkness.

I stood for a moment in my little back yard, and just looked up. It reminded me of how wonder-struck I was seeing the darkness of sky for the first time, nearly a year ago. And the stars. My own stars. The Milky Way is a chalky streak of thin, watery paint across the middle of the universe. Billions and billions of cold, bright stars against an inviting, inky background.

I'm going outside again right now. I need to feed Tez his sloppy biotin supplement with applesauce--the only way I can get it down him. And I think I'll go outside for a few minutes and sit down in the wet grass and stare up at the stars for a little while. They are so beautiful.