A Magical Slide

In German, the transition from the old to the new year is called a ‘Rutsch’ meaning a slide. Just before the new year, people wish each other ‘Guten Rutsch’, a good slide.

Well, we had a most magical slide. At a quarter to twelve, our little party of seven hiked up the hill in O’Conner, a suburb of Canberra, to a playground in a park at the top.

Eucalyptus trees formed black clouds in the sky illuminated by a full moon. Below, the lights of Canberra sparkled in all colors, forming a blinking ground line for the fireworks to come. A tall but dead tree trunk right in front of us lent the view an eerie atmosphere. It’s three remaining branches reached into the starry sky almost touching the Southern Cross.

At midnight, the fireworks launched into the sky, exactly below the landmark constellation. A few rogue clouds pushed in front of the moon as if to dim the backlight and give full glory to the centerstage.

A perfect start to a new year. I wish I’d brought my camera and captured these images, but then it might just have distracted me too much. Instead the images and atmosphere are burned into my memory.