THE MOON
How can the moon be personal? In oh so many ways... When I was a little girl, I remember my dad taking me out to look at the moon. It was one of our "things." It was so simple, yet so special. I will never forget that--just like I will never forget him throwing me over his shoulder and us arguing over whether I was a sack of sugar or a bag of potatoes, or him playing the guitar singing me songs on our front porch before I went to bed...
Then, when a special aunt moved away when I was a little older (she reappears below) she reminded me that we could look at the moon at night. And, since we were both looking at the same moon, we wouldn't feel so far away. When Buzz went to boot camp and OCS, we tried looking at the moon at the same time, but it wasn't always up in the summer sky. So, we (well, I did--I'm sure his schedule didn't always permit) looked at the sky every night at 9 pm. I remember times when I would be out and about with friends and realize the time and dart out the door to have a moment with the moon and/or sky--and, for that moment, we were together.
When Buzz deployed for the first time after we became parents, K shared this love of the moon. I can still see her tiny finger pointing and hear her barely-1-year-old little voice yelling "moooo, moooo." I cherished those moments, reminded of my special times with my dad and Buzz and my long-distance relationships.
So, the moon tonight was even more special for me. I called it to K's attention, though she wasn't as excited over it as she used to be. I just called my dad to make sure he sees it. :)
THE ICE CREAM SUMMER
That special aunt I just mentioned (B) moved to and from my hometown many times during my childhood--and so did her grandson, my second-cousin and best friend growing up (M). One summer, both M and B lived in my hometown. I stayed with my grandmother while my parents worked--after school and all day during the summers. (My grandmother, for the record, is an absolutely amazing person...K is named after her.) This particular summer when my aunt and cousin were in the 'Noke, M, M's mom, B, my grandma, and I went out pretty much every single day of the summer. I have little recollections of exactly what we did--other than just being together and the fact that we ALWAYS went to Baskin Robins for ice cream. We went there on the way to or from all of our other stops. M and I always got this strange bubble gum ice cream and the other ladies thought it was gross and crazy. I can't quite remember how we would chew the gum that was mixed in the ice cream while still eating that ice cream...but we did. And I loved every day of that summer...we still call it The Ice Cream Summer. It was a blessing, having such special people in my life--at the same time--every day. I loved being dropped off at my grandma's excited for what the day would hold and what adventure we would go on each day.
That's it. They may sound simple and these may be typical Beth-story-ramblings...but tonight, they were real again and to say those memories are heartwarming would be a huge understatement.
The moon tonight from my front yard (I need a better camera)
The moon was but a chin of gold
A night or two ago,
And now she turns her perfect face
Upon the world below.
Her forehead is of amplest blond;
Her cheek like beryl stone;
Her eye unto the summer dew
The likest I have known.
Her lips of amber never part;
But what must be the smile
Upon her friend she could bestow
Were such her silver will!
And what a privilege to be
But the remotest star!
For certainly her way might pass
Beside your twinkling door.
Her bonnet is the firmament,
The universe her shoe,
The stars the trinkets at her belt,
Her dimities of blue.
~Emily Dickinson
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