The Night the Sky Turned Pink

One of my favorite things about living here is the view we have looking north. It’s wide open, especially at night. I’ve spent so many evenings standing in the yard, watching lightning flicker way off in the distance, sometimes so far away I can’t even hear it. It’s quiet and peaceful, and something I will never get tired of.

But nothing has ever compared to what we saw last night.

Last night the sky lit up with the most gorgeous hues of pink and purple. Not for a second or two, but for a while. It was the Aurora Borealis. In Florida. Right here at Pauline Manor.

I had seen people talking about a big solar storm, but I didn’t expect it to be visible this far south. When I stepped outside, I could just barely see something strange in the sky. It was faint, almost like a pink haze. I opened the camera on my phone and switched to night mode… and that’s when I realized what I was actually seeing. The camera picked up the glow in a way my eyes couldn’t. The longer exposure made the color pop, and suddenly it was right there, clear as day on my screen.

I just stood there barefoot in the grass, flipping between staring at the sky and staring at the photo, trying to believe it was real.

What is Aurora Borealis?

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, happens when the sun sends a big burst of energy toward Earth. That energy hits the atmosphere and lights it up, kind of like a natural neon sign. Usually, you have to be way up north to see it. But during really strong solar storms, it shows up farther south. This one was strong enough to be seen in Texas, Florida, and even parts of Mexico.

One of Those Core Memories

This was one of those nights I’ll never forget. It reminded me to slow down, look up, and appreciate where I am. I’ve always loved the way the sky feels out here, but this? This was something else entirely.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see it again. But I’ll be watching, just in case.