One or Two, the Moon is Still New
Sunset on a Quiet Day
I have always been amazed when I awoke on Christmas day to find it to be peaceful and quiet. Today was no different. Everyone and everything just stops on this day and because of that, its is intensely quiet. For that reason, I like this day.
Today also happened to occur on a new moon. As I do every month I go out to find the new crescent moon and to record it, as it used to be on film, but now with pixels. As quiet as it is on any other day, today it was even more so. As I stood out there on top of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the silence I felt like I was very far away from the things of man.
I waited a while before the moon made itself visible as it emerged from behind the clouds. It was a fine moon, crisp and clean in the sky. As I worked photographing it my cell phone broke the silence. I was called for a sighting report about the new moon. I replied “I am looking at right now as we speak”. I was asked “who else is with you?”, and my reply “I am alone”. “You know two people are needed for a valid report”. “Yes I know” was my reply and the call ended.
Safar 1, 1433
I suddenly thought, one person or two, the moon is still new. I laughed, finished up and drove home alone in the revelry of beautiful silence. I started this 20 year odyssey of looking for the new moon when no one else would, and now I still go out alone most months, only now with a reputation of the Moon-Sighter following me. And whether I see it or not, the moon waits for no one or two.
Enjoy the coming winter. Peace.
