Late one night, several years ago, I awakened to an effervescent glow squeezing through the mini-blinds of my bedroom windows. For some reason I had retired early, so — amid the whitewash of light flowing into the room — instead of yanking my current I-can’t-go-to-sleep book from the nightstand and reading until I nodded off, I wandered out onto the chilly lakefront deck.
The full circle of moon was so bright my body cast long shadows on the decking. From nowhere a thick cloud drifted across the moon’s yellow face, and like an opaque curtain being drawn over a window, the moonlight flicked off: a cosmic light switch had been thrown. In the crushing dark, pinpoints of stars burst into existence, their constellations leaping out against the blackened sky. Then, as the marauding cloud swept clear of the moon, the momentary star shine was once again swallowed up in the harsh rush of moonlight. I raised my hand and let its eerie shadow fall across my face.
What a mystery this moon has been for millennia, even now that science has managed to stamp the footprint of civilization onto its surface. I spread my fingers and let the moonlight streak through. “And the moon be still as bright.”
Yes. Exactly.
“Moon over North Pointe Cove”
*from the poem, “So We’ll Go No More a Roving”, by George Gordon, Lord Byron
(originally published and copyrighted© 1998-2010 by Simply Tim in the Recipe du Jour news letter.)
Tim,
Last Friday? night I noticed how bright it was outside. After a couple of hours I went outside and looked up to see the full moon in the sky surrounded by a perfect circle of clouds, or haze? (I live in L.A.) It was so awesome! The next day I found out that we had a lunar eclispe at around 4:00 am. I wonder if that was the cause of that spectacular circle?
Jenny
P.S. Have enjoyed you guys for years, Happy Holidays!!
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You, too, Jenny! Thanks for sticking with us.
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Hi Tim,
Like all the others, I too llike the columns you three write. Have copied a jillion of the recipes, but like the writings the most!!
You all have a diffrent way to commute ,but I hear here you loud and clear.
Please never leave..
Thanks for the writings,
Jean
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Jean, you just made my day! Okay — heck, my whole year!
–Tim
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You know I’m crazy about this photo of yours. It’s magical. I’m so glad I have a print of it! And as for your writing here, well — I loved it then and I love it now. Full moons are truly enchanting… and you get that. Thanks, Tim, for your wonderful writings and photographs. Never quit.
Annie
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When I saw this picture on Tim’s Gaston-Posters website, I just had to have it. It arrived Monday and it’s MARVELLOUS. It will occupy pride of place in my living-room.
I had bought another of Tim’s posters before, called “Rain Devil”. At this rate I’m going to run out of wall space soon.
The site is really worth a look. By golly.
Thanks again, Tim!
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Thank you, Corri. I appreciate the plug!
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It will be nice to see photos from time to time. That is something that was missing from the newsletter. Hope you’re as excited about this blog as I am. I feel like I’m talking to an old friend. I’ve been a subscriber to the newsletter for a long time.
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Well, by golly, Marlita — thank you. “Ottawa” even sounds cold.
–Tim
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Thankyou so much for returning to us.
Living in Ottawa, Ontario,Canada is so different from where you live and your life style. Sometimes you make it sound like a magical unknown world for me, especially on our cold winter day, which is such a contrast too, to the very hot humid summer we have been having.
Thanks Tim; love your writings and recipes too. I have really been missing hearing from you via my inbox.
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I have been known to pull off the road to gaze at the full moon. Or like you, get up in the night just to look at it.
So glad you guys are still writing, I would miss you if you weren’t in my inbox.
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Keep writing, guys, and we’ll keep reading! We’re glad we haven’t lost you.
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Awesome! Glad to still be able to read all of you guys’ musings! I tried the link to Walt’s blog, but it came up that the site was for sale! LOL! I’ll check out his email and see if the link is maybe different. Thanks for continuing your work!
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Walt’s blog site is:
http://americanimpressionist.wordpress.com/
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Hi, Margot. Boy, that was a long time ago. I don’t think I’ll revisit the desktop calendar. It was a good idea but way too much effort!
–Tim
P.S. Have you checked out my LakeGastonPosters.com site? I now officially have a display in the local Ace Hardware.
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I really enjoy your photos. Still have the cd of the calendar from several years ago. Are you going to do something like that again?
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