OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE: Moons too close and sonic booms are kind of nice once in a while

The moon thing, the closest to the earth in a long time, was sure nice. I enjoyed the whole evening. We had the binoculars and telescopes on the sight from the time the moon peeked over the horizon until we wore ourselves out! We had watermelon, cookies, homemade ice cream and all the family together for the evening. A celebration, not one noted on the calendar but one of life and family.

I am not superstitious as I have said many times. A grown man rooted in the word of God, a hardworking, sober man am I. I am beyond all that black cat and ladder palaver, but you have to give nature her due. I was watching the cattle extra close for any unusual unsettlement and I was right. They were spooky and snorty all day, calves staying close to their mammies and the whites of their eyes were showing.

I don’t usually check the bulls as the youngest offspring does it on his way to meet the oldest one. Considering the strong gravitational pull of the moon, I decided to drive over and take a look for myself. The old bulls, there were four of them, were squaring off at each other, pawing the ground, daring the other one to draw first - just like the gunfighters of the old west, prepared to die or kill. Well, maybe they were not that serious in their bawling and sparring mode, but obviously mean as an old wet hen. The yearling bulls were scuffling around and walking the fence. All the works of nature do affect the animals and usually even mankind.

I didn’t feel any different during the day and, as far as I could tell, my close relative was her usual good-natured self. She made cookies and hummed around in the yard tending flower beds and moving any part or parcel of mine to the well house. I am not allowed to make a mess in the yard. She made peach ice cream and it was close to perfection, only needed more peaches. Don’t mention that if you see her at the store!

I saddled Snip and rode around the fence where the heifers we are keeping are penned. The old cedar posts are getting rotten and need replacing but I wasn’t into it for that day. The girls were uneasy, followed me along the fence line like a pack of pups. I was sure they would stampede if a sonic boom occurred.

And about the sonic booms, whatever happened to them? I remember hearing them several times a day back when I was a youngster. That was a while ago.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, moons too close and sonic booms may not be in my reserved knowledge, but I sorta enjoyed both of them. I like being surprised by a big boom if it isn’t something on this earth blowing up, and I sure liked looking at the huge and bright moon. I did not think scientifically about the occurrence, just enjoyed the event and will remember the family and the warmth of the yellow light shining so bright for so many moons to come!

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/10/2013