The pull of the night
1. 3 or 4 years old - Catching Fireflies
My earliest years were spent in a small town filled with a large extended family, a river behind our home, and rolling hills everywhere you looked. The majority of my childhood was fraught with abuse, loss, and an array of unhappy memories. But these good ones shine bright. It's late at night (to my very young mind), and we're in the park with small nets & glass jars chasing fireflies. Their wondrous glow seemed like magic to me.
2. 6 or 7 years old - Neighborhood Games
A different town, a large apartment complex in the suburbs. We don't have much, but we're surrounded by those who also don't have much, and you make do with what you can. Summer evenings feel like the last a lifetime. Kids of all ages eagerly wait for the sun to set for nighttime play of tag or ghost in the graveyard. Squeals and giggles fill the air as we run around until we're finally called back inside. Off to dream, because the adventure starts again tomorrow.
3. 15 or 16 years old - "And in this moment I swear, we are infinite"
A friend's birthday party. A cluster of weird, silly, welcoming teens who have that joie de vivre. We take a walk outside, notice a meteor shower, and bundle up next to one another in the street looking straight up at the night sky. Perfection.
4. 19 years old - Late night walks
College, a new place far from home. Stimulating conversations with a new love. Stops for ice cream, or to enjoy the nighttime quiet in a bustling place. The shininess of a young romance.
5. 20s-30s - Paradise
Late nights on vacation at the beach with my partner. The sound of the ocean and faint singing can be heard from our balcony. The soft breeze. Falling asleep under the stars.
6. 30s - Painting the night sky
A last minute invite from my secondary partner to head up to the mountains for a nighttime photography session. My first time up there and being awestruck by noise of nature and the endless sky of stars. Soaking up the comfort of being held close as he painted the night sky with light for an extended exposure shot.
7. 30s - Watching the sun rise from a mountain
Soaking up the calm before the first hint of rays. Taking those moments in with my partner and son. Feeling joy at the beauty in this world.
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