When long summer evenings bring people of all ages outside to walk, bicycle, push their children in strollers or walk their dogs, I think something must be right with the world. Whether they're alone, in couples, as family clusters or in youthful groups, I like to see people take time for simple outdoor activities. The reasons for going out may vary. In some cases it's part of a decision to get more exercise or to do more family activities. Other people are probably just tired of staying inside. If the air is still warm and humid, at least there's a break from the sun's rays.

Of course, different people prefer different times of the day, but it's not uncommon to adopt more nocturnal habits in the midst of summer, when outdoor evenings are more likely to extend past sunset. Children's bedtimes may be delayed, with no school the next day. Adults also have vacations and change their daily routines. In the hottest spells, it takes creative scheduling to find a reasonably comfortable opportunity to be outside, sometimes after dark.

Beyond practical considerations, there's something special about being out after nightfall, whether to watch fireworks, roast marshmallows, look at the stars or go for a walk while talking to a companion, holding a partner’s hand or enjoying the solitude of one's own thoughts.

In broad daylight, the reality of the surroundings can be a distraction from creative thinking. A little darkness helps. Distinct structures, vehicles and signs turn into shapes and shadows. From streetlight to streetlight, the visible world is limited, but overall it becomes a much larger world than the spaces between four walls.

In the darkness, I'm less conscious of the man-made world and more aware of the natural. I begin to sense what it was like to live in primitive times, when the landscape itself was more prominent than all the marks and changes made by people.

However, if I'm out at dusk or later, I'm sometimes startled by sensor-activated lights that come on in response to my passing. They interrupt the mood. They disturb the peaceful atmosphere I felt in the comparative privacy of the darkness.

I'm aware that light is symbolically associated with good and that darkness can be a cover for criminal behavior. Preventing trouble is a good idea and security is desirable.

If my response, as a passerby with no ill intent, is to hurry on and try to remember where there are lights to avoid in the future, then they probably are a deterrent to intruders and undesirable activity.

Maybe I should try to be more suitably impressed with the nighttime display of technology. Actually, the light can be helpful if it shows me a rough place in the sidewalk, or a bush or branch to avoid.

Still I feel a little sad sometimes that the simple act of walking by on a sidewalk is potentially problematic or questionable enough that it should be noted with a bright signal.

I'm more amused by the lights that go off or become dim when I pass. It could be a courteous gesture to reduce the glare as someone goes by. It also makes sense that if a light is already on, it would need to do something different to signal that a movement has been detected. However, it's more fun to remark that my presence must have been such an eyesore that turning off the light was the best option. Maybe I should have brushed my hair first or dressed up more if I planned to walk in that area.

Perspective as a visual term requires light, but time outside after dark can be a good opportunity to improve a person's perspective on life. If I develop big ideas about who I am, a quick way to correct the misconception is to walk past a spotlight that goes out when I show up. And if anyone thinks that his presence in the world doesn't count, that his passing isn't noticed, there are plenty of lights out there ready to prove it isn't true.

[Mary Krallmann]