Black

I survived my first early morning this week. Not my first ever, but my first since it has been getting dark.

For weeks, I have started my day working from home, waiting just long enough to walk Maui once it has gotten bright out. It's been a nice way to ease into the change, and a good way to manage the hours I have been putting in.

But this week, I had to conduct a tour at 9am, which meant a walk in the dark. Apparently, I was woefully unprepared. For starters, I'm not entirely sure amidst our boxes where I might find a flashlight. I have some idea, but I had no time. I was also wearing a black coat, grey dress, black tights and black boots - not particularly safe.

We started out along the street, which was relatively ok. But the second we walked into the forest, wow, it was like hitting a brick wall. Quite literally, I could not see my own hand in front of my face (probably the black gloves) and most of the time I couldn't even see Maui's white blaze. Dogs from every direction, let into their backyards, began barking like crazy at us. They knew we were there, but I doubt they could see us. We sure could not see them.

I am not sure I have ever actually been in darkness that complete. From the street, where there is a little bit of light, it was spectacular. Millions of stars. From the woods, sheer, utter and complete black. I had to take the path by memory and talk the entire time so Maui knew where I was. She, largely, stayed on my heels and actually whimpered in fear for a large part of our walk.

I felt terrible, and will definitely not do that again.