Both Sides of the Fence
A Tosa resident since 1991, Christine walks the dog, raises kids, cooks but avoids housework, writes and reads, and works too much. A Quaker and
The Aging Maven, she has been known to stand on both sides of the political and philosophic fence at the same time, which is very uncomfortable when you think about it. She writes about pretty much whatever stops in to visit her busy mind at the moment. One reader described her as "incredibly opinionated but not judgmental." That sounds like a good thing to strive for!
Look up
By Christine McLaughlin
Tuesday, Jul 24 2007, 11:47 PM
Tonight is full of the sounds of summer critter symphony: cicada, cricket, and tree frog. The closer you are to places thick with trees, the louder the concert, and the more instruments playing it. It almost masks the constant whine of traffic on the freeway.
I was listening so intently while walking Idgy tonight that I almost didn’t see the couple lying side-by-side on the hood of the pick-up truck.
“Fireworks tonight?” I asked.
“No, just stars,” they said.
I looked up, something I’d forgotten to do.
There’s too much light from the city, from our houses and streets, to see much. You have to go to Wildcat Mountain to really see the night sky.
But even on 116th Street, above the last of the fireflies, you can see the moon starting to bulge, Jupiter with his steady shine, and Antares, a little red and twinkling.
Antares means “Against Ares,” the war god. That seems appropriate in the peaceful cool of the evening. Seems like the proper work of people at the end of the day is stargazing. Making love, not war.
Over the cicada tympany, an old song runs through my head. I sing it, even though there’s no one around to hear.
Are the stars out tonight?
I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you, dear.
If you have eyes to see, look up. There's plenty to love all about you.
