ONCE In a BLUE MOON

Have you ever heard the expression "Once in a Blue Moon"?

Did you realize that the month of May had a blue moon? Well yeah, I knew that, I am a notorious nighthawk.

Ever since moving back to New England from the West Coast, I have been teased by meteorologists and late night radio icons such as Art Bell, informing me of an upcoming once in a lifetime event. I must merely leave my front door and look toward the heavens at the precise time they tell me.

I inevitably did exactly what I was told, like some pathetic sheep following the herd, at some ungodly hour of the morning, only to be deeply disappointed. Now, I understand that certain conditions must be present while anticipating the purported great event. I mean meteorologists are not magicians. Hell, they aren't even that precise at weather predictions past the next few hours. Nevertheless, I digress.

In the previous several months, there has been a lunar eclipse, a rare planet line-up, some unknown named comet appearing at a certain time only in my part of the country, the "Leonid" meteor shower, ( promising to be spectacular, by the way) right up to May thirty-first, where I would be treated to the second full moon of the month. Yes, the rare "blue moon".

Notice I am not speaking as an awe struck observer of these great events. No, I am speaking as one who has faithfully followed the directives of the talk show icons and jubilant meteorologists, only to step outdoors at the exact time prescribed and see nothing, nada, zilch!

Welcome to New England, where the weather changes more often than a Presidential candidate's accent! The formerly clear and starry night astonishingly turned to copious cloud cover within minutes. Needless to say, there was no moon. That's right You've got it--I failed to see the unusual visitation of a blue moon. Foiled again! That fleeting moment in history went on without me, along with all those other captivating events I mentioned. Naturally, the following night appeared clad in crystal clear skies.

You ask, will I fall prey to the next cosmological event to be announced by some eager scientists, in the future?



Not in a blue moon!