happy birthday to me

I went camping at Anza Borrego State Desert for a night. It's a long way to drive for just one night, but that's all i had--and it's worth it. The drive there was mostly in the dark, especially as low clouds (can there be fog in the desert?) blocked sunset light, but the drive back was gorgeous--live oak, blooming ceanothus, and elderberry all green on the hills with other things i can't yet identify: Ocotillo, i think, in the desert. Red fuschia-looking things. Some sort of white trumpet-shaped flower. Mistletoe in the trees.

As we set up the tents, few stars were visible because of the clouds; but as the night grew later, ah, how many stars there were! I know it's not half as many as could be seen in a truly dark place, or one not surrounded by hills and trees. The sky was not a star-strewn as some nights i've seen in New Hampshire or Vermont or Maine, but i hadn't seen that many stars since i'd spent a week in Maroua a few summers ago, out in a village on a flood plain with no electricity. That sky was pale with stars, not a dark sky at all. This one sparkled.

I found Leo again. Saturn was bright. I think i can finally id Gemini without confusing it with every other pair of bright stars. There was a shooting star. And then i saw the sunrise too, coming up between the trees.