Look at the Moon

It was 3 am in Madrid and I can’t sleep because it is evening at home in Dallas.  I wake up and pick up my phone which in our fatigue training they warn us crew-members not to do because the blue light on your phone makes you not want to go back to sleep.  I have a text from my Mom in Eastern Kentucky. You have to understand that she rarely ever sends a text. She loves to send me a Facebook message with some funny cat comic, health crisis, an airplane story, or anything of interest.  Most of the time I really enjoy the stuff she sends and it makes me realize just how much we are alike.  The text is short and sweet and it reads,” Look at the Moon”.  I laugh because I know in recent years my Mother has started to be obsessed over the Moon.  She reminds me of my Grandmother who used to call us and say Billy Graham is on channel 4. 

 

A few years ago Mom and Dad were here and she kept saying that there was some special Moon event later that week.  She kept talking about it and we were like okay we will make sure to be home and pray for no clouds.  It was a cool evening and it was clear when the blood red moon starts to show itself over the trees to the East.  We have a perfect place to watch the Moon rise in our back yard.  She stood there for a very long time and she even pulled out her phone and took pictures, which I didn’t know she knew how to do.  She rarely takes a picture even when I ask her to take one. 

 

She talked about the Moon for the rest of the night and Mike and I who love all things in the sky were happy to discuss and look at pictures on the web.  My Father who loves science fiction movies didn’t even get up to come look at the remarkable sight outside on the back deck.  In that moment I realized her excitement was because she just wanted to have someone to share it with.

 

Back to her text…I called her on face time and we talked about the Moon.  I told her I was in a hotel in the middle of the city and I would have to go to the roof to see the Moon.  Madrid does have a rooftop bar but I was pretty sure it was closed at 3 am in the morning.  So I just let her talk about the Moon for a good while.  I fly home and Mike and I have an amazing dinner at home.  While doing the dishes I see that orange ball coming up in the kitchen window.  I tell Mike to grab your shoes.  He looks at me like running shoes, climbing shoes or flip-flops?  I said we are going to watch that Moon-rise.  He rushed to get his shoes and I am walking to the fence and trying to figure out how to face time my Mom and also not trip on the steps in the dark. 

 

She answers the call and I see her legs because she is not sure how to face time video.  I have the moon in my camera and she is so excited.  She gets up out of her chair and goes to her front porch to show me the moon in Kentucky.  So we are all three watching the moon-rise and talking on face time.  I look to the right and there is a golf cart sitting there watching the moon and I laugh that we are all just mesmerized by this big beautiful Moon.  Mom is happy, Mike goes to get some binoculars and we talk for some time.  Mom gets her binoculars so she sets the phone down and I can here her talking.  She is like wow that is amazing.  She kind of whispers to me I love you.  I told her I loved her too.  It was a powerful moment that I will never forget.  In that moment I realized how much she still loves life.  I am so blessed to be able to share moments like this with my Mom.  It is a reminder to all of us that sometimes just recognizing someone’s passion and letting them talk about it can mean the world to them.