If you caught the lunar eclipse last night, chances are you had quite a show. Saturn was also up there, just to the lower left of the moon. I was lucky enough that my mother-in-law called to tell me about it, otherwise I would have missed it myself!

So, when she called, I quickly put on my two layers of barn flannels, my goofy stocking hat with the pom-pom on top, gloves and tennis shoes. I grabbed my telescope and out the door I went. Many of you know that my Hubakin got me a great telescope for my birthday. I am an amateur (at best) astronomer, so this event was right up my alley! The moon looked amazing - slightly orange. It reminded me of a cantaloupe! Another really awesome sight was Saturn - I could even see the rings with my telescope. I can't tell you how excited I was!

It was about 7 degrees outside, but I didn't notice. The sky was amazing. I haven't seen a clear sky like that in a long time! I didn't even notice the cold as I set up and took my first look at the eclipsing moon...so cool.

The first thing I thought about was amidalooine, PadmeSkywalker77 and anakinside1, because they came to my house last July when I first got the 'scope, and we had loads of fun with it - I wished they could have been there with me.

The next thought that entered my mind - and stayed there - was of my dad. He passed away almost ten years ago, but every time I gaze upward toward the Heavens at night, I always think of him. We would spend hours in the summer together watching for shooting stars, charting constellations and peering through our telescope at the moon and whatever else we could find. Events like last night, although rare, would fill my heart with wonder, awe and an excitement I can't explain.

The telescope we used was homemade. My dad was a mix of MacGyver and Maxwell Smart - he could take pieces, scraps and a little bit of adhesive and make just about anything. I remember the telescope as this big cardboard tube, about 6" in diameter. He used a mirror, some screws and steel, and a smaller metal tube for the lens holder. I don't remember what he used for magnification - probably a magnifying glass hand-beveled to perfection! He mounted it on an old camera tripod with some hinges. That was our telescope. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. We probably could have afforded to actually buy one, but if my dad could make it - it was made.

My dad, although he only went to the 7th grade, was the most intelligent person I've ever met. He was self-taught, became a draftsman and later worked out schematics for machines that produced ball-bearings. He never stopped educating himself. If he could learn it, he would. I'm sure that had a big impact on why I became an educator myself.

So now, even as an adult, the night sky holds special meaning for me. When I glance at the Heavens, I believe I am looking at Heaven - toward my dad and all my loved ones who are there with him. Last summer, in August, I spent most of the night watching the Perseid meteor shower, and found myself actually talking to my dad. Of course I didn't expect a reply, but some of the shooting stars seemed to coincide with "our" conversation. Coincidence? Wishful thinking? Delusions? Perhaps.

Last night filled me with that awe, wonder and excitement once again. I told my Hubakin when I came in (only because the tips of my fingers started going numb) that doing what I just did invigorates my soul. I really needed it. I have been going through a lot of poodoo lately and have NOT been myself, to say the least. Being on that high caused me to not fall asleep until after 1:00 a.m., but today I have more energy than I have had in weeks.

The next lunar eclipse will be December 20, 2010. I'm marking my calendar now.

MTFBWY...always.

MO2YP