Luckily, it wasn't too cold. We grabbed jackets and a blanket and sprawled out on the ground to stare up at the sky.
We pin-pointed constellations. We talked about outer space. We watched the moon. We sang Maccabeats' hit songs. We laughed like idiots. We made short videos of us acting like idiots. I discovered that over-tired 8-year-olds are a lot like my drunk friends in college.
I had a lot of fun and the girls did too. This is not something any one of us will ever experience again.
Finally, just before 3, the girls hinged on certifiably insane and I was crossing the finish line towards completely and utterly exhausted. So once the moon was completely hidden, we came in for good and headed in a bedwardly direction.
No matter where we go from here (or when we all finally get there together), we will have the memories of lying under the stars in this front yard, bundled in jackets, watching the amazing sky (and dancing like idiots too).
Once I was sure the girls were asleep, I snuck back out for one last glimpse. The shining edge of the moon made me smile. I can't quite explain it, but I find it exciting and comforting. It's exciting because this series of events won't happen again for more than 300 years. It's exciting because I got to spend that time outside laughing with my girls at 2 am (a time they won't see the awake side of again for quite some time). I find the normalcy of it exciting too. Things return. Everything comes back to its normal state.
I find that whole notion very comforting right now.
DH always says, "They wrote Fanny Hill 400 years ago." I think that's his way of saying there's nothing new under the sun. Hanging out at an unusual time with my kid was the best part. We haven't both been awake at 2 AM since she was a nursling.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a perfect night - thank goodness for eclipses.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful fun! I still remember the crazy adventure our family had when Halley's Comet appeared in the sky. You've given them a memory to last for a lifetime.
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