New day

Saturday morning I was in the Tahoe and headed out of town while it was still dark. I love watching the night turn to day.

On Saturday, it was cold and mostly clear. The temperature on the vehicle's thermometer bounced from 40 to 39 to 42 to 37 as we rolled along the highway.

The sky just above the horizon to the east began to grow slightly lighter, changing from black to charcoal grey. Trees and buildings began to show in silhouette in a tone-on-tone subtlety, scarcely visible but undeniable.

I'm amazed by the acuity of our eyes, the distinctions of our perceptions. The eye-brain team is truly a wonderment!

A tiny hint of red-orange invades the charcoal grey of the eastern sky. The grey lightens to a medium grey and extends its reach to a larger part of the horizon. The barest bits of pink and lilac begin to appear on the wispy, striated clouds angling across that part of the sky.

I love this part of dawn. It's still dark, but the promise of light, the promise of color is vivid in its potential. All the earth seems to be holding its breath, anticipating the day that is surely coming.

Then the tiny glints of pink and gold and lilac and aqua begin to show on clouds throughout the whole dome of the sky, as the approaching sun stretches its influence across the entire expanse. Everywhere you look, the signs of morning are unfolding, blossoming.

The eastern sky lightens and lightens, to a delicate aqua with gold highlights, pulling everyone's attention to the east. Does on the edge of a pasture stare at the spectacle. Strangely, we roll past a field where buffalo snort their foggy-looking breath in the early morning air; they too seem frozen in amazement as the sun trumpets its nearness.

Finally, the glory of the morning sun glides over the horizon, shooting powerful red-orange rays in all directions, setting bushes and trees and barns aglow. The blazing shafts of light make the morning dew sparkle and provides a rosy excitement to ordinary things.

As I said, I never tire of this daily celebration of a new day. What a joy to watch the earth wake up to a fresh morning, full of promise!