Staring at the Moon.

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Tonight's a lunar eclipse. And it's “easy time” compared to the last one I stayed up to watch. (Totality at 3am, back in 80? 81?) Tonight we should see the moon disappear at around 7-8pm. Nice, I pray the clouds stay thin. If you've never watched a lunar eclipse, don't stay up for it. But if you happen to be up at that time, DO make sure to take time and take some glances as it progresses. It's really quite amazing to watch the moon cycle through a whole month in a very few hours.

Of things lunar, the other day I glanced up from unloading the car (curse Daylight Savings) and saw the nearly full moon, and an airliner perfectly framed in it. Absolutely amazing, and the wing clearance light towards me blinked! What an amazing sight. I was going to wax mathematical and try to figure the odds, but I'll just keep it visceral. I live within 10 miles of one of the busiest airports in the world, and planes fly over with enough regularity that post-9/11 was positively eerie. So you'd think there'd have been a few chance encounters like this. Never in 13 years of living in the footprint of this airport. Never, in my whole life. And I look up at planes and the moon far more than the average Joe. What a sight.

And since I've got you in on this lunacy, let me tell you my other odd piece of history. Where were you on 20 Jul 1969? I was sitting with my brother in the back seat of a VW wagon (sky blue, of course!) listening to Voice of America on the Blaupunkt radio while we raced across the desert to get home in time to see the TV coverage. Watched b&w TV with the sound turned down, and Walter Cronkite's narration provided by a Zenith WorldRadio. That's when the world got as small as its ever been. Somehow, it's gotten bigger, louder, and less singular, but maybe that's just me.

Charlie's eyeing me again, he knows when I'm quiet for a long time, I'm up to no good...

Look up at the moon tonight, would ya?