Dog food (not soup) for the chicken soul

I love to look at the stars and camp under in the wild but I am rather afraid of the dark. I have been since I was very young and have never really mastered it nor felt comfortable alone in the dark. I am not sure why I am so afraid of the dark but lets blame it on my parents.
I never knew my real dad as he left when I was 2 years old and my mom had her hands and brain too full for security of a little scarity cat. My step father could have a mean streak (and my mom also) when he was drinking or actually anytime if we ate all the ice cream before he got home...go get a branch out of the yard , drop your pants, learn a lesson. Great lesson for little kids. At any rate anger, conditions, insecurity have all played a part in this almost phobia. (my phobia is small tight spaces...add the dark now that should make anyone cry)
Now I get a chance to introduce you to the second partner in small town crime. His name is Gatsby. He loves to be with me all the time except at night or when the house gets too warm then he sleeps outside. He is deathly afraid of the pet clippers so I must use the sissors yet he loves his night walks and camping trips and he will get between me and a bear as he did in Aspen, Colorado. The dogs smelled the bear long before I saw him. I am less afraid of bears than walking down an alley alone at night. The dogs quickly took notice of their "mortal enemy" and began the rapid approach and vociferously alerted the bear of priorities. My dogs listens well and came to my side and Gatsby leaned against me when I called him as did Mo who had been bouncing up and down and rearing on his hind legs to make himself taller. Even as Gastby quivered unrestrained against me (partly from fear I am sure but partly from the desire to drive the beast to its mountainous retreat). I never felt more protected, more in control, more a part of life and the greatness of man, dog, and wild animals. And night skies.
So now you know how a scared little boy can grow up to freely camp where he wants and sit in the dark of the night with skies so full as to remind one of our small contribution to this package of earth and skies and companions.