In the night when the dogs and I were out in the dark- they were watching me catch roosters – the moon was so bright we had shadows. Moon shadows. 

Moon shadows are mystical in a way.  Like the comfort of a very bad mobster who is on your side. Shadows in the day are often forgotton, we walk with them without saying a proper thank you for the company.  Daytime shadows are direct and honest.  Straight forward. Sun  – person – shadow.

A night-time moon shadow is spooky.  Sidelong. Inky black.  They are a negative in the bright moonshine landscape. Moon shadows are indirect, more impossible somehow. Doubled back. They are the shadows cast from the reflected light of the sun.  Reflected off the face of the moon and all her shadows. Sun – moon – person – shadow.

Almost impossible when you think of the space that light has travelled back and forth to reach my body then lay on the ground, journey ended or reflected straight back up from a puddle or the sea.  Earthshine from moonshine. The earthshine bouncing back to the moon at the speed of light or a slower light speed? Does the light slow down and become diluted as it is reflected back and forth in those first few bounces. A light that originated 93 million miles away.   No,  the short light speed hop from the moon to the earth after that long journey must seem trivial but is accomplished with exactly the same rush.  All in a few seconds. (As opposed to about 8 minutes from the sun to the moon so Sister Marion told us in school).   But don’t forget,  the smallest shine that returns from the earth to the moon reflecting off the seas and great lakes. Maybe even my reflecting eyes watching the fulling moon contribute to the earthshine winging its way back to the moon and beyond.  So much a part of the night am I. But that light never slows down on it’s accidental journey. The speed of light is always the speed of light no matter how much light is doing the speeding or how often it has been reflected to and fro.

Yes even though it is reflected away – it does not leave. The light is infinite.

Moon shadows lead the dogs tracking me, and the trees and buildings surrounding us cast the absence of that light as black holes.  The dogs and I  lightly creep on frozen feet through the bright ice and cold to the sleeping roosters, like old time turkey catchers,  to and fro in the night carrying my flapping packages to their new homes.

Surprises are in store for those who have clear night on Wednesday. Watch for the moon on Wednesday.

I hope you have a lovely day.

celi

WEATHER:

Tuesday 01/30 0% / 0 in
Sunny to partly cloudy. High 34F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night 01/30 0% / 0 in
Cloudy and windy. Low 27F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.

Sun
7:05 am 5:07 pm

Moon
Waxing Gibbous, 98% visible 4:23 pm 6:14 am