From Skilled Hands

A Walk When the Moon Is Full

By fromskilledhands ( February 21, 2008 at 10:16 am) · Filed under Change, Discoveries, Musings, One Heart, One World

When my kids were little, we took full moon walks almost every month. Winter was especially intense: the cold clear light reflecting off the snow took our breaths away. Some months it was too bright and clear for us to venture into the woods.

There is a full moon tonight, and the promise of a lunar eclipse. The thermometer tells me that it’s 9 degrees outside. My body screams that it’s much colder than that. I started out through the woods, beginning with all 3 dogs, and ending with 2 dogs and a cat. The moon was rising; the air was clear and cold. I crunched along the trails through the woods, stopping to check on the moon’s progress.

I returned to the warmth of this old house, peeled off my layers and slipped into the slippers waiting in front of the heater. My oldest daughter called from her college dorm in New York City. She shared the events of her day. I asked her if she remembered our full moon walks. I could hear her smile as we reminisced.

The lunar eclipse was just starting. I asked my daughter if she could see the moon from her window. She described the moon at which I was looking, “We’re looking at the same moon!”

Fifteen years later, 456 miles apart, we looked at the same full moon, sharing. It truly doesn’t get much better than that.

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10 comments »

Larramie said,

February 21, 2008 @ 2:19 pm

Oh, I shared it too, dear comma.
fromskilledhands said,

February 21, 2008 @ 5:24 pm

You did, ?
Mary Witzl said,

February 21, 2008 @ 7:32 pm

In Japan, they have something called ‘tsukimi’ in early November — literally ‘moon-looking.’ There are special seasonal fruits eaten, and a particular plant — I think it is pampass grass — that is used too, as it looks particularly nice in moonlight. Our kids used to love celebrating tsukimi.
Cathy said,

February 21, 2008 @ 10:10 pm

Lovely, lovely. When I read things like this it makes me want to live in the country! My husband was peering out the window last night in our rather urban setting trying to see the lunar eclipse but I was already snuggled under the covers with a book and would not budge. Silly. Next time! And yes, isn’t it great that even when our children are far away they are still close.
fromskilledhands said,

February 22, 2008 @ 12:43 pm

What a lovely custom, Mary. Honoring nature and seasonal changes makes sense to me.

The dogs crossing their legs was the first thing that propelled me out the door, Cathy. Then the majesty of the night took over. I am so glad I did it.
Mrs. G. said,

February 22, 2008 @ 1:45 pm

This is a beautiful post, and it made me feel a little weepy. I am missing my daughter all ready…and she hasn’t even left for college yet.
patti said,

February 22, 2008 @ 4:25 pm

so nice…and the comment you left me made me nod in appreciation.
fromskilledhands said,

February 22, 2008 @ 10:25 pm

Thank you for your kind words, Mrs. G. I am astounded by the depth of feeling I have for my wonderful daughter—I am amazed at who she has become and at what she has accomplished. That’s the great thing about love: it grows.

So glad you’re here, Patti. Thanks for your kind words.
Sherry said,

February 24, 2008 @ 12:57 pm

What a lovely memory and musing Debra. That eclipse was incredible wasn’t it? And how special to speak to your daughter, far away and be looking at that same moon. My husband and youngest were at hockey practice, but oldest has been home this week for “reading week” and he and I went outside to look at the moon together.
fromskilledhands said,

February 27, 2008 @ 12:05 pm

And you shared the same moon, too, Sherry.
All over the planet, folks looked at the same moon. We share much more that we realize, I think.