Occasionally in life the stars align themselves, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes I can see the alignment, sometimes I cannot.
I remember several years meteor showers were predicted. I got out of bed around 2:00 a.m., the reported best time to see them at my location, to witness this wonder of nature. For whatever reason, I did not see the expected phenomenon.
A few years back a total eclipse of the sun was predicted. A solar eclipse occurs in broad daylight when the sun is obscured by the moon, causing darkness during the daylight hours. I was attending a Federal Programs conference (I believe it was in middle Tennessee). The conference hosts provided each attendee with the necessary 3-D glasses to prevent eye damage while looking at the eclipse. I was thrilled to be able to experience this marvel of nature, as in my over fifty years of life I had not been privileged to see a total solar eclipse. I figured if this was the first time, occurring in the second half of my possible (though neither guaranteed nor probable) century of life, chances were great that this would be my only opportunity.
Just this week I was able to see a magnificent lunar eclipse. This is another rare occurrence that I had previously seen. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow. Once again, I was privileged to be in the right place at the right time, just by the normal course of life. I was meant by forces greater than myself to witness this event. I have become disillusioned with the news in recent years, and it is rare that I now watch a broadcast. My lovely niece in Cincinnati sends uplifting and informative messages daily via phone to her group list, on which I am happily included. She was the first to inform me that a lunar eclipse was at hand.
Just when it was beginning, my college friend who lives in Rogersville posted on Facebook, “It’s starting!” I occasionally, though not regularly, check my Facebook account, so there was a greater probability that I would have not have seen a message from my friend than otherwise. If not for my niece, I wouldn’t have known to what my friend was referring.
I was able to sit on my front deck and watch the eclipse in its entirety. I had a perfectly unrestricted view. During the event, I googled on my phone for more information about lunar eclipses, which made the experience more meaningful. I was most impressed that at the point that the earth completely cast its shadow over the moon that the moon would turn blood red. As clear as my view was, I could barely have seen the eclipse if not for my glasses. I am nearsighted in one eye, farsighted in the other, and have blurred vision at a distance in both.
Perhaps I should use this experience to make my debut into writing country music songs. I might do a lyric titled “Ronnie Get Your Specs” that might go like this:

Refrain
Nearsighted in one,
“It’s Nellie, by gum!”
Her beauty, you see,
Made me weak in the knees.

Verse 1
Farsighted in other,
Thought he was her brother.
“Now,” I surmised, “is the time,
To make her mine.”

Refrain

Verse 2
I marched myself over,
Grabbed her by her shoulders.
Upon this sweet Miss,
I planted a deep kiss.

Refrain

Verse 3
It didn’t feel quite right,
What happened to Nellie’s teeth?
After a fist my chin beat,
A few of mine lay at my feet.

Coda
Had I’d seen whom I kissed,
I would have resisted.
I’d kissed not the daughter—
I’d kissed my beloved one’s mother!

Remember, Dear Reader, when I make it big in Nashville, you knew me when! I leave you with a few thoughts from my email world.

If you ever feel a little bit stupid, just dig this [song] up
and read it again; you'll begin to think you're a genius.

OLD MAN JOE: “I’m 85 and my body is full of aches and pains.”
OLD MAN TOM: “Well, I’m 85 and I feel like a newborn baby.”
OLD MAN JOE: “Really?”
OLD MAN TOM: “Yep. No teeth, no hair, and I just wet my pants.”

Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon?
Great food, but no atmosphere.

What did the turkey say to the computer? (Google, google.)