I found myself in the fortunate position to watch the sunset tonight. It just ended a few minutes ago and I feel so peaceful. Ahhhh
The sunsets are so beautiful from our front door, let me explain. Our door and the window next to it look out onto the row of townhouses across the parking lot, but above the long row of houses I can see the sunset, and every evening that I am here I love to watch the colors of the sky change. I can't see the sun, that is out of view, on the left of the house; but the colors of the sky above the scape of neighbors is marvelous.
I also love to people watch, and I love having my neighbors right there with me. It makes me feel less alone (in fact, I don't feel alone at all), I feel like I'm part of a group. The brightening sky contrasts with the darkening of the housefronts.
Today layed on the couch, which is in the perfect position to lay on and look out the window, I had some hot NightyNight Tea
in my hands, and this Brian Eno song called "Stars" playing on the computer. The song is 8 minutes long, and when it ended, I took a deep breath, relieved by the sudden stillness. Then I could hear the birds chirping, neighbors opening and closing their doors, talking, children shrieking, and the highway that is just beyond our little nook of houses. The highway noises are amazing, because though it is a constant sound of moving traffic, it is more. It is the sound of many individuals traveling. Each burst of engine rumble and the rush of a truck is the sound of someone going somewhere, somewhere big, because that is what the highway is there for. Some are going to the grocery store, or home from work, but some are going to Chicago. The trucks are traversing the country, back and forth in spurts. It's beautiful. It's enormous, and I am with them, witnessing their stressful travel, full of pressure (at least thats what driving on the highway is like for me), but with none of the pressure, only the joy of moving foward.
