by Whoosh! The deafening howl of wind and waves struck me across the face. I finally found my footing after a bit of a stumble and a rumble and a tumble. Even though we’d been at sea for nearly a week, it still takes some getting used to all the rocking. Being near the top of the ship doesn’t help either, but outside the bridge is the most unobstructed view of the night sky. The clouds were a little discouraging, but a bunch of us were hoping it might magically clear up in time.
The cold air cut my knuckles and blasted my face. But if the price to see the aurora borealis was hypothermia, I’d gladly pay that tax. Besides, freezing temperatures are always more bearable with friends. We waited under the midnight sky for about an hour, talking about everything from the excitement of seeing the Alaskan coast, to Harry Potter, and our plans for when we get back to wherever we call home. We finally called it a night, with some people planning to come back out after a brief break to warm up.
Although we didn’t see the Northern Lights through all the clouds, and I could barely feel my hands or cheeks, I felt absolutely wonderful. Something about the cold and the dark expanse of the water surrounding our ship, is utterly peaceful. I laid on my bed, and slowly drifted into dreams thinking about that whooshing of the wind and waves.
– Cedar Bertelsen
