During her Scandinavian vacation last Spring, our daughter sent us photos from Sweden of the Northern Lights. I thanked her, and told her that was probably the closest I’d ever get to seeing the Northern Lights. I was wrong.

I still haven’t seen them in person, but our son sent us photos of the Northern Lights from his home in Minnesota when they were visible there a few weeks ago. One picture included a stunning red backdrop for their house and yard, newly decorated with Christmas lights. Another photo, taken while he was out walking the dog, featured a huge, eye-opening beam of pink, purple, blue, and green, stretching from high in the sky to just beyond the horizon.

I heard on the news the next day that the Aurora Borealis, aka Northern Lights, could be seen as far south as Arizona, and even here in Georgia. I also heard that they would be visible for a second night, so I bundled up and went outside that night, hoping for a glimpse of them.

I didn’t see them, and I have to admit I didn’t really expect to. We live on a wooded lot, which is great for watching meteor showers when I can look straight up into a night sky filled with stars. But it’s not very conducive to scanning the horizon for colorful lights, when all I can really see are trees and shadows.

Over the next few days, conversations with several friends included stories—and sometimes photos—of relatives who lived in places like Wisconsin and Iowa, and who also saw the Northern Lights.

I’ve since learned that this unusual phenomenon was caused by a solar storm, which is something that can also disrupt technology, messing with satellites, communications, and power grids. Thankfully, I didn’t read of anything like that happening, just the strange occurrence of Northern Lights in places that have rarely, if ever, seen them before.

Although I hope to avoid any experiences with disruptions in technology, communications, and power grids, I can’t help but wish that at sometime in my life, I’ll be in a place where a solar event of some kind will allow me to see the Aurora Borealis in person—visible to the naked eye and in all its colorful, magical glory. If it happens, I’ll be sure to take pictures.

November 24, 2025
©Betty Liedtke, 2025

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