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The Man in the Moon
Monday night, I was driving around doing some errands and I was not having even a teeny, tiny, mildly good time. Other drivers had exceeded the usual levels of irritating dumb decisions. (One person decided to change lanes at a traffic light and nearly backed into me until I honked my horn repeatedly to stop them. Over and over, there were those drivers who had to dodge in and out of their lanes trying to get a little bit ahead of everyone else. Etc., etc., etc.) I was seriously grinding my teeth.
And this came after a day with a group of 5th graders whose ability to make snarky comments about the topic we’re learning, or sigh loudly in irritation when I ask them to actually write down stuff in their notebooks, exceeds all I’ve ever experienced in 24 years of teaching this age group. How many days do we have left until school ends?
Anyway … I stopped at a traffic light, and looked off to the east, and–wow! I got a message from heaven. There was the gigantic, pale-yellow moon sitting right on top of the eastern hills. The Snow Moon was glowing in the sky, just for me. I guess it was actually full the day before, but it still looked full tonight. And, just like that, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and the tension slid right out of my brain and floated off.
It has now been three months since my husband passed away. Yes, I still miss him. Every single day. But in early December, when I was dealing with the sorrow and paperwork (wow…so much paperwork when someone dies…), I was feeling so lonely, and as I was driving back home in the evening, I came around a corner and was facing East, and just at that moment, the clouds floated apart revealing the full moon as it rose above the mountain.
I looked at it. I burst into laughter (not tears) and said, “Hey, how are you tonight? Thanks for this!” I was talking to my Sweetie, who (I decided) knew that I needed to know that he was up there in Heaven, thinking of me, too. During our whole marriage, he had been amused at my childlike delight whenever I could witness the rising of a full moon. I’d run into the house and urge him to join me. When the kids were little, I’d bring them outside to admire it. I just love seeing a full moon come up from the east. Yes, I know there will be another one next month. Yes, I understand it isn’t “magic” — it’s just orbits. But–it’s so gorgeous! And I love it! And in December, I realized that every time I see that big yellow moon, I’m going to remember his smile at my joy.
So, just when I was at the end of my rope again tonight…the Man in the Moon saved me. Thanks!
Published in Marriage
Lovely. :-)
Ever tried it with a telescope? (Of course, it’s even better at night, but then it’s hard to see the telescope! :-) And the kitten who tries to help…)
I used to think 5th and 6th grades were the best times to be alive (and the best ages to teach).
I try to refrain from breaking the news that life goes downhill from there. They’ll figure it out soon enough.
But I’ve also wondered if over the past few decades 5th graders have become the new 7th graders.
They might have the attitude even if they don’t have the knowledge.
Attitude is the larger part of what I had in mind.
I think I’m in love. Well, maybe not really. But thanks.
Lovely, lovely.
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
~Psalm 19:1
New moons are magic – just as the orbits are. All part of a magical creation with silent wonders designed not just to make the universe function but to touch the soul and connect us to all the things that make us more than rocks and dirt, just like your words here and the love that makes each of us special in our own way.
Nice post, Cow Girl. And it made me think of a song I haven’t heard in many years.
Beautiful.
All the way from 1892, via a very scratchy vinyl version from the 50’s or so:
My telescope is gathering dust in the basement. I need to get that sucker out . . .
I’d be curious to know what model it is. And if you’re interested, cloudynights.com is a good source of information etc.
I actually have several, since they’re a lot cheaper than new retail from online sites such as ebay, even I can afford to check out a variety.
Around 1972 or so, I was involved with a project at a Boys Club in Oregon, to build our own telescopes. We started out grinding and polishing our own mirrors, using high-temperature glass blanks from either the Western Kraft or Wah-Chang factories north of Albany. (One side would be pitted from furnace heat, but we used the other side.)
After several weeks of hand-work, which took longer for 12-year-old hands, and occasionally checking the progress, they were sent to Cave Optical for silvering. Mine was the only one that didn’t come back. I’m thinking the Men In Black confiscated it, because it was so good I would have seen their Lunar Max facility that Boris The Animal escaped from, and then killed Will Smith’s father…
Well, anyway.
Especially now that I have plenty of free time, and a location with far less “light pollution,” I’m getting back into it some.
Now it sounds like you’re talking about the government. I sometimes think the 5th graders have more sense than the government, though.
Not if there are 5th grade boys thinking they should be girls, and vice reversa.