When we received a letter from the town of Breckenridge telling us we were noncompliant with their lighting requirements I thought, here we go again with more rules and regulations. Then I started noticing how much we were enjoying the dark. After dinner downtown and passing by beautiful Washington Street Park, with usually a musician playing, we go home and before going in the door pause and notice the night sky. While our kids and grandkids are enjoying the hot tub after skiing all day, they look up at the stars with awe and form lasting memories. 

Coming from New Jersey, we always have ambient light from nearby towns and even from New York City. We never have really dark nights from which to appreciate the beautiful twinkling light from the stars and moon. As we have gotten older, we appreciate the little things more — the free things. Looking up at the stars gives you that sense of wonder that usually only the youngest children feel all the time, that warmth in your heart that will sustain you through the hardest of times. 

So now we will redirect some of our outdoor spotlights and cover over the top of some of our lights that shine both up and down and spend a couple of dollars on a new porch light that is more directed downward. 

Thank you Breckenridge for your dark sky rules that make us feel young again, if only for brief moments.