Slice of Life: Once in a Blue Moon 31 of 31

Say it isn't so?!  This is the last day.  We made it.  Every day in March I have been writing with the Slice of Life community. Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for bringing this community together and for inspiring me to try to find the stories that surround me each day.  Thank you to EVERY ONE OF YOU that have taken the time to read and comment.  

You know the saying, "Once in a blue moon....". It turns out that isn't quite as unlikely as it might seem.

Whether it was in a tweet, whether it was on the news, whether it was in something I read, I cannot say but, at some point, I remember reading that Saturday morning was our last chance to see the blue moon.

This morning as I sat on my couch and watched the sky turn from black to blue, I grabbed my cup of coffee and looked out the sliding glass door to see the full blue moon hanging from the sky.  It appeared to pause to rest on the branches in our backyard illuminating light all around.

This morning was the final opportunity to view the last blue moon.  The good news is that I was up to see it.  I had to chuckle; I feel there is always the last some-kind-of moon.  I'm sure it is a bit of good luck to have managed to view it this morning.  If, however, you missed viewing the last blue moon, all is not lost.  The next blue moon is in 2020, and on Halloween night.  That should be one worth catching for sure.

If you're like me, all of this moon talk makes you curious.  A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month.  It isn't blue.  It isn't sad.  It doesn't look any different than a typical full moon, but two full moons in a month is a rarity.  If you're a teacher, you might pause to ponder this for a bit or start to book a vacation for Halloween 2020.  Nope, I don't think that will work in October.

There have been other "last moons" I have seen of late.  How about the super blue blood moon in January?  That was the first one since 1866.  That does make you pay attention a bit.  I tried to see that one.  It's supposed to be larger than a normal full moon and supposed to have a few red sunbeams across it.  I tried to view that one, but it didn't happen.  I either was in the wrong place at the wrong time or the sky wasn't cooperating.  No worries, though it was the first time since 1866, it appears the super blood moon will return January 31, 2037.

How about August 2017's total solar eclipse which sent people all across the United States for the best possible view?  Interestingly, it's the moon that stars in this event by blocking the sun in a game of hide-and-seek.  If you missed it, again no worries, the next one will be April 8, 2024.  Mark your calendars.

If you're really into mooning over the moon. (Okay that was bad.)  You can always celebrate by tracking down a good view of a supermoon.  This is when the moon is closest to the earth.  You could also celebrate each month if you want to consider the names given to monthly moons long ago.  I'm personally ready for the strawberry moon.

Truthfully, I really do get a bit fascinated when the weather forecasters start to crow about the next "can't miss" moon.  I don't know nearly what I need to know about the sky so it usually sends me to the internet to learn a little more.  Each "last chance" to see a moon sparks my curiosity a bit.  This handy celestial calendar might come in handy.  It looks like April 16th will bring a new moon.  I'll try not to miss it.