Karen Wils photo

Karen Rose Wils

ESCANABA — A flash of light in the night,

An arch of bright color followed by another,

A mingling of aqua and blue transforms into another hue,

Moonbeams, starlight, northern lights, fireworks and fireflies fill the summer skies with lively color.

Pick your favorite. Don’t pass up a single summer evening’s delightful sky.

My favorites are natural ones of course. Mother Nature always outdoes man. The northern lights, aurora borealis, is an awesome sight to behold. Caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with the gases of Earth, the aurora is a welcomed summer guest on certain nights.

The aurora above the edge of a lake or glinting above a shimmering river is a priceless masterpiece.

Free shows on the whims of the atmosphere with the awesome element of surprise, the northern lights are Yooper treasures.

Fireworks are the handywork of humans. Invented by the Chinese people during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Bamboo sticks were first used to make a loud exploding sound when tossed into a fire. Over the years black powder, gun powder, copper, sulfur and potassium nitrate have been added to fireworks mix to perfect them.

The original fireworks were used to scare away evil spirits.

History tells us that fireworks were used to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Now they have been come a work of art often display accompanied by music and shot over reflecting bodies of water.

Communities spend thousands of dollars on dazzling firework displays to say happy birthday to America.

But with all the noise and smoke, good citizens should take into consideration those who saw wartime, pets with sensitive ears, wildlife and those who must get up at 5 a.m. and go to work.

Fireflies are a gentle flicker on a humid summer night. They remind us of our childhood days. Long wet weeds along a creek bed, a Mason jar and a bunch of cousins catching fireflies only to let them go again after it was determined which bunch of bugs were the brightest.

The moon and the stars bathes some summer nights in a white light that lulls the world to sleep. Lightning and wind and rain can put on the other side of Mother Nature’s spectacle. A summer storm at nighttime is well worth watching from a safe place.

So, grab your teddy bear and PJs and gaze up at the lights in the sky.