We went searching for the Christmas star. They didn’t know that was my plan and so they did a good job fighting the effort with their moans and annoyance. This is par for the course whenever I bring up a walk on the canal. We had been inside all day and the dog was all in for an adventure; I knew we would be glad we went once it was over.
The Highline was busier than usual at 4:30 and I could tell others had the same plan in mind. The view of the sky was broad and wide, providing plenty of room for us to see the horizon. The walk was icy and cumbersome on the front end, which, paired with the whining, almost had me ready to give up and turn around as well.
The sunset was outstanding and made an added argument for enjoying this experience and keep moving forward. I basically delivered this same message to Amelia, in a less beautiful way. Once it was clear we weren’t turning around, I told them about my secret motive to come and see the Christmas Star, the Jupiter Saturn conjunction, and how it would show up as the stars were revealed in the darkening sky. Amelia asked what twilight was and started to get nervous we would be walking in the dark.
We were at the front end of twilight, more light than dark. The gentle hooting of an owl caught our attention. First, we weren’t sure we heard it really, and then again and again like a treat we wanted to enjoy forever. I had to nudge Maddie to keep moving, though I too wanted to stay and listen and find it in the trees. The hot pink clouds were starting to fade and the temperature was dropping. We had finally made our way to some pavement, back in the direction of the car, and could move a bit faster than we did on the iced-over trail.
We got back to the car at the end of twilight and stopped on the side of the road as we were driving back home. So many others had stopped too, to take in the two planets so close together. I felt kindred to these other animals and thought about how were are all so primal in some ways. Still, the "star" itself seemed less visually impressive than it was marketed. I always forget that planetary events are a little underwhelming from our current societal perspective, which is obscured by Hollywood effects. Perhaps I’m just getting older, but I kinda dig the reality more. It harkens in me some ancient wisdom.
Back at home we looked at images and watched a news report about the conjunction. Amelia shuttered when the reporters said the next nightly one would be in 2080 and some of us wouldn’t be here to see it. She asked if she would and I said yes. Then told her I probably wouldn’t be here. “But that’s how it goes, right?!” I said as I kissed her head. The last time the conjunction was this close and visible at night was 800 years ago, which is why I wanted to go see it at dusk. We only have this day and what we decide to do with it, and I got to share this cosmic moment with my kids.