Super Moon = Hunter's Moon?

Time has been total chaos. Or so it seems. Then when I try to put it all in perspective I always say "Hey, it wasn't that bad."

Mom has fallen twice in the last 2 weeks. The first time we had to call the EMTs to help us get her up out of the floor. The 2nd time was Sunday morning. I'm not writing about that, I'm just telling it as a prefix, you know, to explain the main characters here. After her first fall she became nervous about staying alone nights and began spending nights with us. Every evening she would tell me she was going to stay home that night and I would tell her that was fine but to call me if she changed her mind. Every night when the sun went down, she called.

So, I had been picking Mom up each evening a little after 8pm. We'd drive the regular route; up East North Street before turning onto our street. And up E North Street we'd see the moon rising. It was incredible. Each night I'd come into the house, get Mom settled, and have to go back out to moon gaze. I was curious about the moon and when all the hype hit the media, I was already into it.

Saturday dawned awesome. I took Mom home and settled her in and then went about the day. We had to buy Mom a new microwave and vacuum because hers needed replaced. We got to her house to deliver her stuff and found her sitting in her usual chair wondering where everyone had been all day. We set up the microwave and put things we had bought away and tried to talk her into coming to our house for the night. She said no she planned to stay home because she wanted to get out of the habit of spending the night with us. So, I got her supper ready for her (had to make sure the microwave worked. it did) and we headed out the door.

"We're going home Mom, OK? Call me if you change your mind and I'll be right here to pick you up."

She replied, "OK, but I'll be fine." So, off we went..the few blocks home.

We ordered pizza and decided we were going to look at the moon. We discussed a good vantage point and I said "...driving up North Street after 8. I have seen it every night." So we planned to visit a city park that sits right at the end of the street. We are good to go. The phone rings and it is Mom saying she thinks I'd better come and get her. "OK, be right there Mom!" I told my daughter we'd pick up Mom and she could go the park without me. I'd see the moon when we drove up North Street on the way back home.

We got Mother and started our drive home; by now you know route; up East North Street. The moon was not there. Clear sky. No moon. We decided to go hunt it up. Mom asked if this was to be the Hunters Moon and Jamelah said "Yes." Why, because we were going to hunt it down. We'd just take my 96 year old mother along for the ride. So we kept driving past our turnoff.

"Where are we going?" Mom wanted to know.

"To hunt the moon!" said my daughter.

"Hunters Moon?" my mother said.

"Yes! the hunters moon."

We headed to 94 (this interstate heads due east) because we figured it would give us the best vantage point and once it appeared we'd find a place to pull over and enjoy the view. So moon gazing we went. Due east up 94. When the moon first broke the horizon I nearly peed my pants.

"I should have brought my camera" Jamelah said.

I can't tell you how excited I was. (I can't remember if Jamelah said I was weird, such a nerd, or a geek. It was one of those things. She has called me all of them at one time or another.) I was ridiculous. Like a kid at the fair for the first time. It was AMAZING. The hype was not over hyped. I nearly cried. I was so happy.

I turned around "Look Mom! the MOON!"

"Yeah," she said. "I can see it." and then she was ready to go home. We weren't of course.

Our drive lasted about an hour with the drive home being less interesting. No moon. No need to explain, right! Once home and Mom was settled in we were outside enjoying the view.

Sunday morning I showed Mom a Super Moon picture taken by our friend Caryn. (see link)

Mom looked at it and said "We saw that, didn't we" she asked.

"Yes, Mom we saw it."

"Was that the Hunter's Moon?" she asked again.

Uh-hmmmmmmm The Hunter's Moon.