While settling in to read before bed on Friday night, I got a message from a friend who told me to get my rear end outside. The Northern Lights were dancing across Southern skies.

The Aurora Borealis, typically only visible in regions closer to the North Pole, has been on my bucket list for years. 

I didn’t even know what to expect. When I walked outside and looked up – nothing. Not even a tint to the sky.

I figured it was due to Fayetteville’s light pollution, so Belle and I hopped in the car and rode for 30 minutes to get out of the city lights.

We found a dark side road in Bladen County, pulled over, and looked straight up. There was a slight pink tinge among the stars. That was it. Disappointing doesn’t cover the feeling. 

But then I remembered: a camera captures the lights better than our eyes.

So Belle and I whipped out our cell phones, set them to night mode, and started snapping photos. Through the lens of our cameras, we could see the ethereal wash of color that painted the heavens.

I never thought I’d witness the grandeur of nature’s light show in the land of the pines.

We owe our thanks to a severe geomagnetic storm for the vibrant red, green, and purple hues that set the skies above North Carolina ablaze.

Belle and I sat listening to music and marveling over the symphony of light and color orchestrated by the universe. Our minds raced to understand the complexities of the celestial event unfolding before us.

I found myself thinking about the nature of our existence – how small and insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things, yet how connected we are to the universe. It was a humbling experience.

When the Northern Lights receded into the darkness, I smiled. It’s a moment I will carry with me forever.

One perfect memory – a reminder that despite the daily chaos and turmoil, the world is still capable of surprising us with moments of pure, unadulterated wonder.