As someone who has worked the night shift for a number of years I must say that it is like living in a parallel universe or one where everything is turned upside down. The brilliant colors of the day are replaced by subtle shades of blue, brown and gray. As I make my rounds delivering dairy products and bread to restaurants and stores before they open the sky overhead is filled with stars that most people never see. Occasionally a falling star will cross the roadway in a descending arc on the way to its fiery end.
I hear the haunting echoes of hoot owls along the river that flows through the city as I wheel a load of bread into a shop. Their sharp eyes can see the mice that I hear scurrying along in the alley. I often see the same family of raccoons near the marsh, on their way to search for crayfish.
As dawn nears I smell the bread baking in the coffee shop and catch wafts of bacon, eggs and pancakes from homes along the street as I drive in my doorless delivery van.
Sometimes I feel lonely for someone to share these moments with but I never feel alone. I wave at the man who drives the street sweeper as he rounds the corner. We greet each other every day as fellow night workers, usually in the same spot.
Most people are friendly, that is those who are working for a living. The late nighters, still drunk from some club don't count. They stagger home bleary eyed, not acknowledging anyone else.
The lady at the toll booth that I always see at the same time, 3:00 AM, smiles and tells me "good morning". I doubt she gives anyone else the same courtesy. It's like a secret society of night dwellers that all know something that day dwellers don't.
We know that we are missing out on some of the better things the day has to offer. We miss the warmth of the noontime sun, rainbows and the vivid colors of trees, buildings and sun kissed skin, but we also know the beauty of the soft filtered light, twinkling morning stars and city lights.
It's a topsy turvy world and we often wonder why fate gave us a night job but we love it all the same.
If the day dwellers would just quit waking me up when I try to sleep it would be almost the perfect life.