Gotta get my mojo back. Everything was so lit up tonight. At 9 pm, I went outside my building to watch the lunar eclipse. On my far right, a very tall man in all black appeared and stood to look too. We were there for about 30 minutes before a small crowd of people started to gather, many of whom would walk past and ask us what we were looking at as if blind. Between periods of silent gazing, the man and I chatted, took pictures, shared sun signs. He introduced himself (Constanine). He offered me a beer, which he drank furtively from his shopping bag. He smoked cigarettes and asked me if I wanted one. I said yes, but couldn’t finish the cigarette because I felt weak and was hungover and only went out because I’d been waiting for the eclipse all week. We talked about the neighborhood, the cosmos, love, the Twin Towers vs the Freedom Tower, the “new dawn,” the various spectators around us. We joked.
At one point, after we spent over an hour watching the moon turn black, then red, I said, “You can tell who the romantics are.” He turned to look at me and said, “Yeah, totally.” We were the most dedicated observers out there, spending a total of 90 mins, or so, while others came and went. Briefly looked up, then walked away or went back to talking on/looking at their phones. We stared at the sky even when all we could see were thick clouds. Waiting for more. And then he said, in the sweetest, most geniune and chivalrous way, “I’m married, and I have a baby, but I just want to say that this seems like the perfect way to meet someone. How amazing would it be if someone saw you right now and just had to meet you.” I couldn’t believe he said the very thing I am hoping this lunar eclipse will bring to my life. “But he’d probably see all these freaks outside and get nervous and not approach you. No, that’s not true. Because if he were perfect for you, he’d do it anyway.” “Yeah. He’d know what to do. He wouldn’t wimp out on me,” I added. “Exactly. I really hope you find that. If not tonight, then soon.”
After a few minutes of silence, and more moon gazing, I said, “I feel like you just blessed me by saying that.” “I’m glad,” he said. And then after another 20 minutes or so, when it became clear that the clouds were too thick, and the moon wouldn’t be revealed again, I said goodbye, and he said, “I feel like a hug is in order? I’m really glad we got to experience that together.” “Me too,” I said. Then we hugged and wished each other good luck.
Crossposted with Love Dog.
Image from One Night the Moon (2001)