Look How They Shine For You

I was feeling a little grumpy about not having seen the ever-so-famous Northern Lights in the 5 weeks since I arrived here in Iceland. "Oh, you'll see them," people said. And see them I did not. Not after braving multiple nights alone on the lava rock, and not after positioning myself next to a window to glance outside every 5 seconds on a clear night. I was starting to think they were a fantastic Truman Show style hoax my entire lifetime in the making.

And then... it happened.

My whole life, soul, and being was filled with complete and unrelenting happiness while I watched the iridescent dance in stark-raving awe. We are the luckiest creatures in the universe to experience such ecstasy in these moments of truly organic and raw beauty. I felt like shouting to the sky my thanks for it's willingness to share such a precious thing with me.

And, none of it would have been possible without help from my friend Hilmar who kindly drove me out to this excellent location, went back to lock the car because my camera bag was in it, went back again to get the remote I left in my camera bag, and kept me good company in the piercing cold while he patiently listened to my passionate bi-minutely reminders that we were looking at the freaking northern lights among other crazed verbal vomit. Being around an excited photographer geeking-out about a seemingly average thing is never an easy task.

I will never forget this night. Even if decay rots my brain in my old age, this memory will be unable leave my existence for it is within my soul to be cherished forever.