northern light

cinematographer gordon willis interviewed on Fresh Air a few nights back gave me a reason for continuing to live here that I loved hearing:  the light.  He said he hates LA because the light there is so flat and boring, one dimensional.  In the north you’ve got wonderful light, he loves the cold, northern lights in winter up here.  Hooray I thought.  There it is, a good reason.  Few days last week have been as November-esque as possible–dark and damp and drear.  Days that sent Ishmael wandering on the high seas.  Why do we keep living here  ? you hear voices in your head wondering aloud for you.  Many sane people move to Florida and other points south and if not south then west and south.  But then the light in the skies grabs you and does fantastic things you had not noticed since about this time last year.  Clouds, contrasts, deep grays, fast moving dark slices and white bursts, always something.  So to heck with those snowbirds, for a few months longer.  Maybe someday we’ll join the caravans to eternal sunshine but not yet, not for now.  Can’t wait to see how short the day will be tomorrow.  Today sunset hit just around 4:30.  Damnation, makes you want to move to Copenhagen and savor even longer pitch black nights.