Strange times

Hi

It's one of those nights; it's 11:15, the rest of the family's in bed but I simply can't sleep. One morning I'll wake up, read the newpaper and I'll be off on my soapbox again but looking at my last few posts, I've been rather...self-centered?... for a while. It won't last! Something will rile me and I won't be satisfied until I've aired my views. In the meantime, tonight, I'm feeling mellow. "I'm chillin'!". I stepped out the back door and the night is warm, more so than would normally be expected for spring.

I wandered around the back of the bungalow in the dark, surrounded by the smell of the wisteria growing up the back wall; a plane droning overhead until it disappeared over the horizon and the quiet of the night took over. Not even a fox calling, no bats overhead, no sound of car engines in the distance. The night was perfect. I recognised the Plough constellation but couldn't identify the North star, perhaps hidden by a cloud. The rest of the stars are a mystery to me but there they were anyway, shining clear and bright. I stood there for a while just enjoying the moment, a moment in time that maybe I'll remember in years to come, like some nights from the past that come to me clear as a bell when I least expect it, to enjoy all over again.

Maybe tomorrow life will resume as normal, but tonight...

...mmm!