Minneapolis, view from Coffman Union, east bank, Dec. 21, 2010, 5:30 p.m.
What I remember from winter nights on the farm is darkness. What I know of winter nights in the city is light.
The solstice occurred today in Minneapolis just after 5:30 p.m. The day was snowy, so we didn't see the sun set about 4:30. Darkness just fell, quickly.
I went to an after-work gathering at Coffman Union. I left the group for a few minutes, walked into the dark west wing and took this photo facing west. From left to right, you can see Comstock Hall (where I lived as a freshman in 1976-77), the Washington Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River, the city in the background, the Weisman Art Museum in the foreground (its new galleries under construction), and our new Science Teaching and Student Services building on the right.
It's one of our snowiest Decembers, but Minnesota is known for this, after all. Just last night, our new campus football stadium hosted the NFL game because the canvas roof of our downtown stadium caved under an earlier snowfall. Walking to the bus, I got a glimpse of the stadium lit up like a snow globe and heard the roar of the crowd in the night.
Tonight I took a different bus home, through downtown, and walked part of the way home, crossing back over the Mississippi on Hennepin Avenue. The river channel is still open, spooky and dark. Here the wild feeling remains, that brooding darkness moving through the city.
This is my home now. I have lived here far longer than I lived on the farm. The snow crunches under my feet. Passing the park, I hear the slap-click-clap of a hockey puck and the slice of skates. I came to love that sound from watching my son play on park-board teams in this city of parks.
I love the country, and I love the city too.
Earth in orbit passes a point, and the length of our days and nights stands still, then reverses. Blessed solstice.
Mississippi River, view south from the Hennepin Avenue bridge, Dec. 21, 2010, 8:15 p.m. Nikon digital by Gayla Marty.
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