Star Light, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight

Tonight the sky was clear for the first time in a long while. As I waited on the train platform at the Kingston Station I was able to see the moon - a beautiful quarter crescent - and the North Star. The sight looked like a slightly rearranged South Carolina state flag, although the image is a little different from this view. As I looked up into the cold night air I was reminded of the song Mom would often sing to me growing up. She’d push my bangs back as she stroked my forehead (which I loved and absolutely hated when her arm got tired and she had to stop) and sing I see the moon and the moon sees me The moon sees the ones that I long to see So God bless the moon and God bless me God bless the ones that I long to see I remember many instances when I was growing up where I’d be away from her and she would say, “Look out the window. Do you see the moon? I’m looking at the same moon right now. So we aren’t so far away from each other.” On one stubborn occasion I pouted, “No, it’s cloudy” to which she replied, “Well it’s there and we are both under it.” The thought of sharing one moon has always seemed to comfort me. As the years have gone by I have always remembered this and while I don’t always call home to hear it from her, the thought still brings me comfort. Lately I’ve suffered from brief attacks of homesickness; most of them only last mere moments before I push the thoughts out of my mind and refuse to dwell on missing home. Many of these moments are triggered by the silliest things, for example, when I am not able to find a particular item - when I could name the exact store aisle at home. Then finally when I find what I’m looking for and it’s three times more than my home store price. Then I am presented with a dilemma, standing in the store staring at my much desired item and thinking “How much do I really want/need this item?” which eventually changes to “If I could only pop home, grab what I need, and pop back.” As quickly as the thought enters my head I send it packing right back out again. Still, pushing the desire to shop out of my head is much easier than pushing out the thought of my much missed family and friends. As I enjoyed this nice clear sky, I couldn’t help but feel comforted by the thought that tonight when all the people I love dearly look up we will be staring at the same beautiful sight. So to all of you at home who I miss so much – I wish you a clear night too.