Silent Night

The other night we got home late after what had become a very long day.  It was a crisp winter evening--the kind where your breath clouds your vision as it wisps up to the heavens.  

Our plan was to go to bed as quickly as possible, but of course the dog needed to go out for a little.

I walked him up into our backyard, the snow crunching underfoot as he sniffed and snorted at the end of his leash.  And for a moment, I stopped and stared up at the moon--slowly eclipsed by the earth's shadow.  And for a moment, he sat.  And we both breathed.  And there was no traffic.

For that one moment we were at peace with the world.