Each Millisecond of Life

The late afternoon sun flickered across my face as I stumbled onto Pinky Point, one of Chewonki’s gigantic, painfully heavy, yellow dry bags strapped onto my back. I put the pack down. Thoughts of “now what?” flashed through my mind. “What homework is due on Monday? When do I have time to get laundry done? When should I call my parents?” Then it hit me. Solos here at Maine Coast Semester are a chance to relax, be alone for an extended period of time in nature, and delve into previously unexplored avenues of thought. Simply put, there was nothing urgent.

As the afternoon turned into twilight, I sat on the big rocks on the shore of Pinky; practiced yoga, and watched two white haired wormers move across the mud flats, their thick Maine accents interesting to listen to. Hours passed, the sun set to the west, and the nearly full moon rose over the water. It was mesmerizing to look at; a seemingly endless path of pearly light shimmering on the waves. When night arrived to its full extent, I lay in my warm, red and brown North Face sleeping bag. Rays of golden moonlight and the sound of the waves gently meeting the rocky shore lulled me into a peaceful slumber.

And so it continued for exactly 48 hours. My solo was chance to simply watch the sun journey from coast to coast, watch the tide move in and out, and the moon rise over the water. Overall, the Maine Coast Semester solo experience was an opportunity to cherish each millisecond of life; a time to be a part of nature.

-Sylvia LaPorta, Cornwall Bridge, CT