A few years ago, I watched a tiny turtle hatchling claw its way out of the cavernous sandy hole that had been its safe haven. I restrained my impulse to give it a nudge over the lip of the hole - even after I watched it slide back to the bottom - twice. Slowly, painstakingly, it eventually crested and waddled straight towards the pond even though it was over a hundred yards away. Tall grass, shrubs, fallen trees, and countless other dangers did not dissuade this intrepid little snapping turtle.

On Monday, night came twice. Both times, the crocuses closed their petals, as they always do when night falls. I don’t know if they closed before or after the ring appeared in the darkened, daytime sky. So they may not have seen the flash. They undoubtedly felt the hush that quieted my chatty toddler grandson - a hush that filled us with awe. Awe caught its breath on the red glow just before it BURST into a brilliance of all brilliances.