In a side-by-side, which was convenient
After sunset we traveled down the road many times but it was almost 10:00 p.m. before we spotted the full buck moon. We spoke about the reason for the name: the antlers of male deer reach their peak of growth around this time in July.
However, it was a bold orange and Ellie declared it the “Pumpkin Moon.” So it shall forever be.
Her friend came to spend the night, and it was late, so a promise of a 4:00 a.m. wake up call to take a walk was made.
However, at 4:00, fog obscured the moon. I turned on the TV and watched as Naomi Osaka carried the Olympic torch to its ultimate destination. In the girl’s bedroom, on the floor, were their glow necklaces arranged in their version of the Olympic logo, illuminating the dark. I broke my promise and let them sleep.
The next night we pitched a tent for a girl’s only camp out. We ventured out on the Gator, but no moon visible. On the way back to camp, Ellie spotlighted rabbits in the fields and we sang the Little Bunny Foo Foo song. She made shadow ears with her fingers in the flashlight.
We then talked about what ‘moral of the story’ means, what goons are, and the delicious world of homophones and puns.
But still no moon. We gave up, retired to the tent, and read Charlie Mackesy’s book until Ellie dozed off.
A while later as I gazed through the screened tent window, I noticed the pumpkin moon had made its way above the horizon as I drifted to sleep.
At 4:00 a.m. I woke Ellie to ride back to the house for coffee. Wrapped in damp blankets, barefoot, we slid onto the dew soaked seats of the Gator and as I was about to turn the key; we looked westward and there nestled in the walnut tree tops, the full moon. Finally.
It seems like this month wasn’t so much about walking when the moon is full as it was simply being together and being curious during our quest.
See you next month for the Sturgeon Moon.
