I'm headed south-bound.  For the last couple of months, I have been traveling in the same mundane darkness.  The head and tail lights supplied the only sparkle during these trips, and frankly, I'm unimpressed.  Today, however, marks the beginning of a long missed, exciting sequence of events.

..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

I journey south toward the looming, majestic ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Mt. Rainier.  It is just light enough for me to make out the slopes of brilliant white snow.  There is still plenty there.  The purple hues that comprise the shadows on the mountain accent those slopes beautifully.  With a faint layer of fog blanketing the base of the mountain, it is a scene that only the most adept producers recreate on screen.  The fear of death is the only thing powerful enough to keep my eyes on the road. 

To the east, I see the blessed sun testing the sky, sharply defining those arrogant mountains that briefly stand between it and its impending glory.  No worries – the powerful shades of violet, mauve and cyan that cloak the sky are simply a tease – a display of what the most central character in the known world is capable of.  Like the morning version of shooting stars, jets leave their impressions on the canvas.  As I glance from mirror to mirror, I catch a glimmer of light in the rear view.  It draws me back to it just as soon as the other two mirrors receive attention. 

It is astounding.  A single building, nestled among many more cold buildings and set against a cool blue background, is lit up by the approaching sun, displaying a stunning bravado that would steal the spotlight from flame itself.  Does it dare mock fire?  It certainly does, surpassing its brilliance in the process.  Its shine is bold, almost vulgar, taunting the reflective qualities of the water that waits patiently for its chance to entertain the light that will soon dance upon its surface.  Like a most rare Padparadscha sapphire set ablaze by the sun, a camera is incapable of accurately maintaining the many facets of golds, pinks, and orange.  No, this is a sight that one can only hope to experience first hand.

And just like that, it began.  The quiet excitement that sits deep inside me is familiar, as it visits me annually.  I smile, because I know that any one of the days in the months to follow is capable of bestowing upon me one of the most spectacular treasures life can offer:  The sunset.