A Night To Remember

A view of the Light Among the Ruins event. 

There was a ushanka hat club and the beanie hat buddies. My oldest nephew wore a silky, coal black  faux fur ushanka hat while my youngest nephew chose a ushanka similar to Elmer Fudd's. It has knobby white fleece on its ear flaps and a gray outer lining. Meanwhile, my niece wore a purple striped stocking hat that sprouted up to a point above her head and my sister wore a sensible, sporty ski hat fitted to her head. Me-I wore a mottled black and white knitted hat that I bought years ago at an arts and crafts fair in Salida, Colo. Ironically, it was summertime when I bought the hat. Wearing our impressive, distinct collection of winter hats, the five of us journeyed to Jemez Spring to take part in the Light Among the Ruins. 

To be perfectly honest, my Saturday nights can be a little boring. I typically lack the tenacity to go out and seek activities outside my house.  My sister once jokingly called my home the "fortress of solitude," and it can, in fact, sometimes feel like that. So when I got an invite from my sister to join her and her kids to view the farolitos that decorate the pueblo and Spanish mission ruins in Jemez Springs, my mom told me to go and I agreed. Even hermits can get a little tired with their usual surroundings. 

I have been to Jemez Springs several times but it is the first time I have ever seen the place packed to the gills with pedestrians and cars. The village was dressed nicely for the occasion. There were Christmas lights outlining many of the stores and restaurants and farolitos dotted several streetscapes. We stood in a line for the shuttle service to take us to the historic site. My niece and nephews killed some time by climbing up and down a giant dirt pile. The air started to get a sharp cold bite so we all crowded around a towering gas heater to warm up our hands. We finally boarded the shuttle to go to the historic site and the place was teeming with spectators. 

The sight was dazzling. Thousands of votive candles lit up a golden glow from inside brown paper bags that neatly marched up and down and in between the walking trails and adobe brick ruins. Against a backdrop of an ink black sky bejeweled with millions of stars, the site took my breath away. 

We all loved it. But the cold in the air sharpened as though its bite had developed fangs. We decided to warm up and call it a night by walking back to the car rather than waiting for a shuttle. My sister and youngest nephew chatted away and I listened to my oldest nephew and niece quietly sing an endless string of lyrics the entire trek back to the car. Heading home, my sister kindly blasted the heat for us  and we listened to Christmas carols. My sister and I even took our turn at singing out a tune: Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas." 

Returning home, I remarked that this night was special. To do something out of the ordinary with the people I care the most about is really a gift. 

Another view.