A Galactic Spray

What is your relationship to the stars? The actual stars in the sky, not the metaphor, although that's lovely too.
Can you see them at night where you live? A few? Many? I grew up in a place where I could count shooting stars before bed and make up my own constellations. As a teenager, I sleep outside most of the summer, and well into the autumn. I would fall asleep staring at the expanse, memorizing the forms as they passed. I could tell time by the position on the stars. I knew what point of night it was if I woke in the dark. 

Daughter and I went camping for the first time. We laid in this hammock and slept as dusk crept across the mountain. We watched the trees become silhouettes. 
We cuddled at night by the fire before making our short, slow trek back up the road to our tent. It was the second night that she found the stars. Secure in my arms, head back, mouth open wonder. Not a word. No exclamation. Silent wonder. 

A galactic spray. From the root words, gala and g(a)lakt, meaning milk. The milk of the stars with it's forever-river pouring sweet nourishment into our imaginations.

When was the last time you were in silent wonder? Arrested by beauty. Alive with the impossibility of such magnificence.

#stars #earth #nature #breastfeeding #lactation#milkofthestars #galaxy #milkyway #camping #motherhood