I suppose there are lots of people who have never seen the Milky Way. Growing up in the country I was used to being able to see the sky and the stars. I remember my father showing me where the Big Dipper, Little Dipper and the North Star were and the Milky Way of course. There weren't a lot of lights around to interfere. Moonlight was wonderful in the forest around our house, I was never afraid of the dark.
Best of all I've seen the Northern Lights a few times in my life, a couple of times faintly when I was a child. It was always a big event, everyone come outside and look. Although I grew up in the country, it was close to a big city, and got more and more built up as the years passed. Doubt if you can even see many stars there now.
The most dramatic Aurora Borealis I ever saw was in Manitoba in October. I was sent out there for my job back in the 80's. It's a very awe inspiring thing to stand outside at night in the mystery of the dark, to look up and see this eerie shimmering dance across the sky. Manitoba is so flat, the sky was huge and the lights rose high above. A rare memory.
Here in the city I still watch for the moon, catch a glimpse of the odd star. I try to remember to look up.
What a nice post. I remember being up in Muskoka unable to see our hands in front of our faces, but a blanket of stars above, framed by roadside trees. We are in Arizona now, and the stars are amazing here in the dry desert.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Northern lights. We'd hoped to when we visited Alaska a couple of years ago, but the skies were always overcast. I hear that sometimes they make noise too. Your post is so evocative; I remember being able to see thousands of stars in the sky.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt inherited an old farmhouse situated in a remote village up a steep hill. I loved vacationing there, taking an old blanket out to the slope behind the house and just lie back watching the sun set and the sky get filled with billions of little lights. Like someone up there was poking holes in a canvas. It was magical and always filled me with such an incredible sense of hope and possibility.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated by the sky when I lived in Canada. I had never seen so many stars ; I am like you and never forget to look up at night, even though in Paris, and especially lately, everything has been dull and cloudy !
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the Northern Lights but they were visible where I live now, once, years back. I hadn't moved here yet. So there's still a chance. I bet it's an absolute treat for the eyes! I love being able to see a blanket of stars out. I grew up in L.A. so didn't see much unless we went camping! Thanks for participating in my giveaway:)
ReplyDeleteJenniferxox