'Walking Through The Lights' I wasn't feeling the cold anymore. The snow was at almost white out condition but seemed to have no effect on me. We had walked several miles, at this point, and the forward movement became as if by rote. If this is where we were going to die, I was bent on absorbing every second. Micro became reality and macro just a blur. Then something happened that changed the entire reality of the moment. It was as if the heavens were opening up to us. Exquisite lights began shimmering through the skies. A completely different sensation went through me. I looked over to my two friends, to see if they were part of the 'going home' experience. At first, I wasn't sure. They had hit the same level of non-distress that I had and I was certain that my eyes were just as glazed over as theirs were. Was this one of the stages of hypothermia? Were we freezing to death and Creator, in infinite wisdom, was providing a 'Jimmi Hendrix Experience' for our viewing pleasure? I had always loved Vermont and it seemed as if my final moments would be forever etched in my psyche as an affirmation of how beautiful the place really was. The day had started with a furniture shopping trip with my friends Kate and Kenny. They had just bought a 10 room ski lodge near Killington and we were off to fill every room. After hours spent in the wood furniture outlet, we had filled the rental truck and shut the door. There was about 5 to 7 inches of snow on the ground but we knew the way back to Rutland and didn't think twice about the 10 mile journey. About 2 miles and half an hour later, our minds were changed. The truck had gone off the road, sliding on an ice patch, and down into a ditch. Thus began our walk through the storm that night. "Kenny, do you see that?" I wasn't sure what the answer would be. Almost didn't care if this vision was there or not. I was enjoying the view. "See what, Sue? I don't see anything." I looked over to see a sly smile on his face and we both started to laugh. "That is the Aurora Borealis, beautiful ain't it?" I just smiled at him, words weren't necessary. The energy that was filling the skies, the shimmer and static sounds were the most incredible thing to me. The colors and hues danced through the cold winter air above our heads. Giant sheer draperies being splayed across the sky, all for our viewing enjoyment, as we walked through the storm. I felt as if this was truly the 'One with the Universe' feeling that we all sought. Seemed almost funny that all it took was a slide off into a ditch to reach Nirvana. I wasn't going to argue, I was just enjoying the ride, er walk. I almost wanted this time to go on forever, not giving thought to the next steps or to what our last steps would be like. If this was "the Stairway To Heaven, I was going to immerse myself in each footfall. I then heard a crunching sound. Turning I saw a car pull up, it's sole occupant opened the door and offered us a ride into town. For a brief second I was torn, wanting to stay in this Paradise of Lights, but I was happy to be sitting in the warmth of the closed door. The lights were fading away, as we made our trip into civilization. The driver, as it turned out, was a doctor from Montreal and he was urging us to go to hospital. We did, finding that our adventure was resulting in some frostbite and altitude sickness, brought on by the walk of several miles through the snow. All worth the result of my first viewing of the Northern Lights. I live in the Rockies now and have since seen the lights. I smile with the appreciation of that first night and the feeling of 'walking on'. I've had a few more brushes with mortality but none as beautiful as that night. mourningdove caller (c)2005