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Last Wednesday's Lunar Eclipse
Feb. 24th, 2008 10:54 amYes, it's been awhile. I've been writing story-stuff and trying to remodel my production schedule at work while being understaffed and dealing with other managerial stuff. But that's not important now. What is important is that last week much of the world was treated to the sight of a total lunar eclipse, and I got to see it. I almost didn't, because though I knew about it I spent most of Wednesday night trying to finish off a story that HAD TO GET DONE and had been resisting efforts to get done for some time.
So, anyway, I was sitting in my chair slaving over a hot laptop when my phone rang. I didn't get up to answer it because over the years I've slid into the habit of letting my machine screen my calls, but when I heard mbf Karin's voice I jumped up (after carefully removing the laptop), tripped out of the blanket around my legs, hurtled into the bed room and grabbed the phone. Karin and Ami call from time to time to chat, but rarely on weeknights, so something had to be happening to prompt her call now.
"Nancy!" she exclaimed. "Have you seen the eclipse?" "Not yet," I said. "I'm writing and I was going to finish this scene off first." "GO NOW!" Karin said. "It's in totality!" "I'm hanging up now and putting on my shoes," I said. I put on my shoes and coat reflecting on how lucky I was to have friends like that.
The moon looked like a sepia photograph of itself. It ranged in color from smoky-quartz in the upper left quadrant to ivory in the lower right. Later when I checked the NASA website on the eclipse I found that this was caused by the fact that parts of the moon were much deeper into the earth's shadow, which I thought was very cool.
I admired the moon for as long as I could take the cold and then I went back in to write. I went back out just after totality had ended and saw something breathtaking: most of the moon was still dark, but one edge was now a bright, eye-searing silver. It made me wish I could paint, though even that would probably not be enough to do it justice.
There will not be another lunar eclipse for several years. I need to remember to call Karin when it approaches, to return her kindness.
So, anyway, I was sitting in my chair slaving over a hot laptop when my phone rang. I didn't get up to answer it because over the years I've slid into the habit of letting my machine screen my calls, but when I heard mbf Karin's voice I jumped up (after carefully removing the laptop), tripped out of the blanket around my legs, hurtled into the bed room and grabbed the phone. Karin and Ami call from time to time to chat, but rarely on weeknights, so something had to be happening to prompt her call now.
"Nancy!" she exclaimed. "Have you seen the eclipse?" "Not yet," I said. "I'm writing and I was going to finish this scene off first." "GO NOW!" Karin said. "It's in totality!" "I'm hanging up now and putting on my shoes," I said. I put on my shoes and coat reflecting on how lucky I was to have friends like that.
The moon looked like a sepia photograph of itself. It ranged in color from smoky-quartz in the upper left quadrant to ivory in the lower right. Later when I checked the NASA website on the eclipse I found that this was caused by the fact that parts of the moon were much deeper into the earth's shadow, which I thought was very cool.
I admired the moon for as long as I could take the cold and then I went back in to write. I went back out just after totality had ended and saw something breathtaking: most of the moon was still dark, but one edge was now a bright, eye-searing silver. It made me wish I could paint, though even that would probably not be enough to do it justice.
There will not be another lunar eclipse for several years. I need to remember to call Karin when it approaches, to return her kindness.
