Space is No Place to Raise a Kid

The night was peaceful... cool... and I was wearily unsuspecting.

Brandon's company had been very hospitable (a quick round of "dance" pong [a gentleman's game] and Jurassic Park), but I was weary and needed to retire, unusually early for a parentless week-end. Bidding one another adieu, Brandon retired behind his screen door with Smoky, his large black cat. I started my car and cruised out of his neighborhood, listening to Gary Jules' "Broke Window" and humming lightly.

Honestly, I was bouncy and happy- a good friend back in town whom I greeted earlier that day, I had had a great time at Brandon's, and was looking forward to not being reprimanded for my late homecoming that night. This lightheartedness was promptly squashed by the lights behind me.

I thought they were the searchlight from a cop car perhaps. Certainly bright enough to be. I slowed down to a stop (I was going to anyways, it was the turn lane to get into my neighborhood) and watched the approaching lights in the rearview mirror when it dawned on me: those are NO squad car's lights.

Silently they glided down the road (a motorcycle? No, too tall). Then they were out of the height of my rear view mirror- over my car. The bushes to my left and the suburbs to my right were momentarily lit up well out of range of my headlights. What is going on? I wondered. There it came- overhead and beyond my vantage point, clearly gliding above and along the road. I sat in silence, completely awestruck at this magnificent yellow-white light. Just as quick as it appeared, it was gone over the hill ahead.

What did I see? I don't know what it was. It lookes like a Coleman's lantern at night from a distance of maybe 10 feet. At least, the pattern of lights did, for whatever it was, it was most certainly far larger than any lantern. I only wish I had had my camera in hand to show you, my friends and relatives, exactly what it looked like.

Don't think I'm a nut, though. I don't think I am. Just, unable to explain it. But if you ever see anything like it, give me a ring. I would appreciate it.