The darkness of night is due to the subtraction of light. Nothing more. Nothing to be feared or dreaded. Just the simple subtraction of the light.

The light of day disappears, and the darkness of night descends. Well, descends is not quite accurate as the earth darkens first, and the skies darken last. Therefore, the night actually rises.

The amount of darkness depends upon the phase of the moon orbiting the earth. It waxes and wanes from full to none, then back to full every month. Also present are stars, which overwhelm us with the enormity of the universe.

The apparent slow crawl at which light is subtracted is really deceiving. It is being subtracted at about a thousand miles an hour, but to an observer such as myself it appears very slow. As I watch from my back patio, overlooking a desert wash, it is almost dark.

There is nothing that is moving, and it is completely silent. There is no breeze, not even in the tops of trees. No, I was wrong. I just heard the sounds of an owl and a bird. The air is warm and it feels so good to be alive.

The words to taps are: day is done; gone the sun; from the lakes; from the hills; from the skies; all is well; safely rest; God is neigh.

I have now experienced this subtraction of light about 32,032 times in my lifetime, and I am still living each day as if it could be my last. And it really could. My last day will be whenever my life is subtracted, not light but life.

To die is nothing more than the subtraction of life. Nothing to be feared or dreaded. Just the simple subtraction of life. Life must be subtracted. Only when it will happen is as yet undetermined.