So much are we tied to our routines in my family that a simple adventure under the cover of darkness means excitement for not only my kids but for me, too. Even an evening trip to the library at the dark hour of 7 PM seems like such an adventure beyond the norm. I understand the prevalence of ambivalent feelings in regards to the upcoming shorter days of sunshine but I also enjoy the mystery that darkness provides as it creeps steadily into our daily lives.
Another favorite adventure of ours is a Night Walk. We buckle up our dog and head out onto our streets to discuss the day's happenings while peering up at the stars, the moon, and into the night. There is something very magical about a Night Walk as compared to a walk in the daylight hours. It's as if our conversations are encapsulated by the dark into a small bubble, just between us, rather than dispersed into the light of the day.
Our previous Night Walks always included the wide open expanse of the beach with the nearby roar and crash of the ocean, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that even a Night Walk amongst the suburbs of our landlocked city still provided the enchantment of our previous adventures.
So, I say shake things up a bit and adventure into the winter's coming night... I hope that one day this winter I'll revisit one of my all-time favorite memories of the night: cross country skiing by moonlight in the quiet hush of the snow...
