At 2:00 a.m. ET on August 25, the moon will be at apogee, the farthest it will get from Earth as the natural satellite travels in its egg-shaped orbit around our planet. At its closest, the moon is said to be at perigee.

Perigee and apogee each happen about once a month. But the moon wobbles as it orbits, which means its exact distance at those events varies over the year. The moon’s phase can also be different during each apogee and perigee.

The moon officially turns full at 1:05 p.m. ET today. The August full moon is sometimes called the sturgeon moon or the green corn moon, according to Native American tradition. (source)

So, the full moon is not full-at least not until later on tonight.  Who knew?  It has looked full to me since yesterday evening.  Not that it honestly matters.  I have viewed the full moon as an indication that a cycle of life has been completed. A practice that I can trace to the ways of my maternal grandmother.

One of my favorite moon sightings actually involves the crescent moon.  We were riding home one evening from dropping a friend off after choir rehearsal.  It was usually quiet that evening.  I happen to look up in the sky and what I saw took my breath away.  The moon was in a crescent shape.  At the bottom tip there was a thin straight line of  light. On the end of that thin line was Venus.  Hanging like it was a rare ruby.  We pulled over to the side of highway and got out to take a look.  It was spectacular!  There is a scientific term for this event. I am just too lazy to look it up tonight. 

That imagery is still crystal clear within my memories.  I have a newspaper clipping that someone sent to me with the picture of this particular moon.  We weren’t the only people who stopped to take a good look at the heavens that night.  I have not seen anything like it since then.  Perhaps I will have the opportunity during my lifetime to see it happen again.  

I have begun a new job.  I am pleased with the employer that selected me.  I am looking forward to having a good school year.  After spending months searching and working myself out of mourning over my dad, it feels good to be headed back into the workforce.

I am going to have to work on getting to bed at a decent hour. Fortunately my commute to work is short.  I can walk to my site in about a half an hour.  Actually I could be there sooner.  But when I walk to walk I’m not rushing to get there. I like to stroll in and get my head trip ready for the day.  I am going to have to be up by 6:30 to be out on time. I have allowed myself to be the true nocturnal individual that I am.  Which is not a bad thing when I can sleep in.  I am working on adjusting my go to bed time.  I figure that by the end of September I will be in bed by midnight.  Maybe.

I always have difficulties going to sleep during the nights of the full moon. I am about to go soak in the tub and wind myself down some more.  I plan to listen to an audio disk while I soak.  That always helps me to wind down.  I’m looking forward to pleasant dreams.

 

                                                   

Do we really remember that there are so many lost and lonely people in our midst?

When we are moving along during the day and pass a person who has the look of being without means, do we turn our heads to try to ignore the obvious?

Those of us who are blessed to have often forget that the line between us and “them” is thread thin.  One disaster could tip us all over into the state of being without.

Instead of us spending out time and energy finding ways to work together.  We are putting a lot of energy into creating a great divide.  One that will eventually cause us all of collapse unless those with clear minds begin to act.

 We are either going to stop our own brand of madness.  Or we should prepare to hit total rock bottom.  Which might be what we honestly need to have happen.  Maybe if we all flatten out it will be that slap of reality that will motivate us to move past our differences onto our common ground.

If the color of my skin/your skin/ or the shape that my body/your body is in/ is used as a weapon of mass destruction/who will be the true victims in the end?  Will it be us or will it be them?  Only time will tell the story of how smart or foolish we really are.

Too many people have nowhere to go.  Not enough to eat or just the basics of  life.  While we have so many things that make our lives bearable.  Still, we continue to bitch/moan/and complain about the have-nots.  While we ignore our own moral poverty.  We have become a nation of people who seem to be caught up in homemade madness.  Name a group and we will be more than happy to tell you why they piss us off.

I have read articles and comments with viewpoints that are not unfamiliar to me.  They are still just as uncomfortable as they always have been.  But, it really makes me wonder if we will eventually rue the time when we spent all of our energy at odds?  Or will we continue to carry on as if the experience has the power to make things balance out?

Only time will be able to spin the tale of how we survived these difficult days.  Someone of us have already converted into mental zombies.  Moving about without really thinking about how our actions affect others.  We don’t care because it is all about me. 

What about the common good?  That point where we show a sensible level of maturity?  That point where we can look past our difference and act like we have the skills and talents to improve things?  We need a national talented tenth that can make the moves to upright our slumping sense of decent and civil behavior.

Go With The Grain is sponsoring a creative way to help combat childhood hunger.  The Bread Art Project is a way for everyone to use their creative talents to create artwork on a virtual slice of bread.  For every slice of art that is created a donation will be made to help feed hungry children in America.

 

It is easy and enjoyable.  You can use the design tools or upload your favorite photo.  It is all for a good cause.

 

I hope you will take time to visit the site and create a slice for the benefit of hungry children.

What is the magic that midnight holds?  Is it the indigo evening gown that Lady Night spreads over the skyline?  Or is it the moments of quiet that spread across the city like a blanket?

I’ve never been able to figure out what it is about this particular hour that is so alluring.  Why does it seem to have the power to draw me into its endless moments of darkness?

Some of my most profound moments of recognition have come during this time of the night.

I have been able to see miles and miles ahead of where I am.  Or miles that I have already traveled.  With a 20/20 clarity that often stuns my senses with the brilliance that radiates during those moments.

Tonight I am sitting here thinking about the past three weeks.  This road has been difficult for me.  I’m taking a unkown journey as a daughter.  My dad passed and it has been so difficult for me to fully embrace those feelings of sadness and loss.  They exist and I cannot act like they are not present.  They are not going to allow me to ignore the reality of why they exist.

I know that they will not be as sharp and piercing forever.  At least I am hoping this is the case. These past three Thursdays have begun with the moment I received a call from my sister.  A glance at the calendar to remind myself that his renewal in the spirit is his re-birth day.  While the time I have marked in mine to mourn.

This is how my midnight hours have been spent.  Trying to handle feelings that I have never known within my lifetime.  I realize now that this is the first time during my lifetime that my dad is not here. 

I could not be selfish enough to hinder him from leaving.  His body was filled with pain.  That hurt me too.  I found myself questioning who was that man lying on the bed, fragile and suffering?  Even though he was my father, I realized that he had already begun to move away each day that he was ill.  He was slowly letting go and it was obvious that he needed the release. 

There are moments when it does not seem like anything has changed.  I keep thinking that I can just pick up the phone and talk to him.  Or go visit him and see his smile when we greet.  Those are my memories now and I want them to be stronger than the pain that seems to well up daily.

In time there will be another midnight when these feelings will be distant.  I will sit and think about the moment when we laughed and talked.  When he would reassure me that it would be alright. 

I’m looking forward to those moments.