It's home. Moraine State Park late at night. The evening before I'd hiked to this very spot. Only I then I didn't bring my camera. After seeing an approaching storm rolling in on NEXRAD I decided to go watch it hit the lake. Quickly donning my rain gear, and leaving all electronics behind I slipped into the night. As I made my way to this point, I had a lot of time to just think. Ghosting along the bike trail (so easy when it's paved!) I often came within feet of deer, and once startled a fox. I always focused on the Eastern sky on my way to this beach, which lies on a point jutting out into the middle of the lake (sort of, it's a big lake). With the wind beginning to push me forward into the water of this spot, I turned and faced West for the first time. A wall of misty nothing was sweeping towards me. I'd made it to the point in time to see the storm front hit! As the heavy rain, and sweeping winds obscured the horizon I was able to watch it dissolve the horizon line from the end of the lake all the way up to where I stood. The wind was so strong I couldn't face it directly. With my hood raised, synched, and secured tight I had to learn into it, the brim of my hat and hood directing the rain away from my spectacles. As the wall passed I turned my back into it, feeling it rage around me. Eventually the front passed, and the rain slackened. As I made my way back, the way paved by the wet reflection of the clouds on the bike trail, my reeled with thoughts of home, parenting, art, and personal responsibility just to name a few. Most importantly of all, I felt alive.
