A rhythmic  thrum-thump woke me just after 4 a.m. Certain that the HVAC tech had (perhaps wittingly?) dislodged something during yesterday’s clean-and-check, I leaned against the unit with a mug of coffee, analyzing the fan’s every noise before conceding that all seemed fine. By then, my husband had joined me, so we stepped outside to look at the moon. And thrum-thump, thrum-thump! Music? Was someone hosting a party? Where? And why had it begun after 4?

Grateful the source of the noise wasn’t in our house, we finished the morning chores, grabbed some breakfast bars, and headed to the conservation area.