--by Rayn

In the daylight, the pinelands are a welcom- ing place for fun. With miles of forest and lakes, the pinelands are filled with the hustle and bustle of daytime activities such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, and fishing. But at night, the landscape takes on a whole new perspective. As the midnight hour descends upon the pinelands, the sky, lakes and forest provide the most serene, magical setting I have ever experienced.

First of all, there is the sky. The pinelands have the healthiest, clearest sky I have ever see. Unclouded by the haze of city pollu- tion, It looks like a dark velvet blanket covering the earth. And there are so many stars I can't count them all. They shine so brightly they look like twinkling diamonds on the horizon. Shooting stars are a common sight in the pinelands. As they fall it appears as though I can reach out and grab one. Sitting proudly among the stars is the moon. Serving as a brilliant luminary it produces enough light to see for miles.

Then there are the lakes. They are filled with dark, amber cedar water. The water moves so slowly the lake looks like a sheet of smooth glass. I hear a small splash, perhaps it's a turtle taking an evening swim. I adjust my vision in the dark to see what it was. I only catch glints of amber as the moonlight dances across ripples of the wake. So I follow the small creatures lead and wade into the water where I am engulfed and com- forted by the lake. I love the calming feeling of the balmy water as it flows gently around my legs. Every few moments, a cool patch of water flows by and gives me a tiny jolt. As the softness of the sand cradles my feet I breath deep taking it all in. The shadows of the trees are mirrored in moonlight on the water, and so precise they resemble a painting in a gallery

But the best part of midnight in the pinelands are the pine trees. They stand so tall and majestic. To sit under one in the moonlight is such soothing experience. When you lean against one of their massive trunks you can't help but feel connected to it. If you look up through the limbs of these colossal forest pines, you will see layers of branches representing the most royal colors of green ever seen, each one falling in perfect unison with the one before it. Sometimes the soft rays from the moon combined with the twinkling from the fireflies make these trees look as if they are decorated for the winter holidays. They almost come alive and dance as the wind blows through their massive arms. Their aroma of pine mixed with the scent of the earth is better than any bottled fragrance you could ever buy.

After spending midnight in the pinelands, I am more at peace with my surroundings during the day. Since I have moved to the suburbs it's hard to obtain the serenity the pinelands gives me on a regular basis. That is why I have planted a pine tree in my tiny backyard. Now, when I want midnight in the pinelands and can't make the trip, I can sit under my tree, close my eyes, and go there in my mind.

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