Today being the Winter Solstice, I set out with the intention to photograph both the sunrise and the sunset.I’ve been starting work early these days, so I actually took my lunch hour (very) early and set out at 7:30 to catch the sunrise.The last several days have been completely overcast, so I felt so lucky that the skies were partially clear.The clouds were amazing!After work, I set out for my favorite sunset-watching spot, anticipating a crowd, it being Solstice and all.There was only one other dedicated sunset-watcher there (not just drifting by to take a selfie and then moving on).I said to this woman, “I’m so surprised there aren’t more people here for the Solstice!”She answered, “Yeah, Summer Solstice gets all the love.” Well, I love you, dear Winter Solstice. I love you with all my heart. Welcome back, dear Sun.
The thing I love so much about my favorite sunset-watching park is that I can go there all by myself as the daylight comes to an end, and I never feel afraid. That is because if there is a sunset, there will be other sunset watchers. I’ve never been there, at any time in the year, and been the only one there for the sunset. There are people with dogs, people with babies, high school friend groups, other older females there alone. And even in these Covid times there is plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the sunset safely.
Ever since mid-March of 2020 my opportunities to be safely around other people have been extremely limited. Grocery store trips, doctor’s offices, waving at people across the street as we go for a neighborhood walk (we’re all so good now about crossing well before we encounter other people) – that has pretty much been the extent of my in-person experiences with those outside my family.
I was talking with my friend Beth during our weekly Zoom call yesterday and we were reminiscing about going to live events – concerts, movies, plays. One of the things we agreed that we missed about live events was the collective energy you feel from being in a room with many people all excited about the entertainment to come. You just don’t get that from watching something on television. When I watch my sunsets, I feel that same sort of communal vibe. We’re all there to experience the incredible beauty of what is about to unfold right in front of us. Of course there are the occasional annoying people (hello, can you corral your dog/child/loud mouth please?), but the vast majority speak in hushed voices, make sure they are not blocking the views of other people, and wear masks even though we are outdoors and spaced much more than 6 feet apart.
The sunset pictured above was last Wednesday. My photos can’t come close to capturing how stunning it was (I was using my iPhone, as I usually do for sunsets – I might have to break out the “real” camera for my next outing). It inspired me to get out there earlier in the month in March and maybe catch more than one sunset during the month. I don’t know how I can have nearly an entire month go by (January and February both) without doing something that gives me SO much pleasure. Do you have something like that in your life? Something you love to do but never seem to find the time to do?
