Moon and Mars

It is August 27 2009, I am excited and ready to see the amazing alignment of the Moon and Mars.
My good friend and brother-in-law sent me the information on the possibility of a sighting via email last week I am thrilled to have this photo opportunity.

I invited my friends to join me but they all declined.

Loading my camera, tripod and adequate snacks into my heavy duty Ford diesel truck, the one that sounds like a bulldozed when I drive it.
I head out to sneak a peek at the rising moon over Georgian bay near Owen sound.

It's eleven forty five. I came early and pulled off to the side of the road about 5km from down town. I am not sure where in the night sky to look for the rising moon so I park facing east which gives me a view of the lights across the bay shimmering over the water.
So far nothing but stars and the distant sound of country music echoing across the bay as crowds begin to pack up and head home from a delightful evening at the annual fish derby event.

Eleven fifty I decide it's too quiet so I put the radio on and catch the end of " Wire Tap" with Jonathan Goldstein. I enjoy the friendly canter between Jonathan and an program promoter.

Twelve fifteen and still no site of Mars or the moon. It dawn on me that I wouldn't recognize mars in the night sky any way, I'm a photographer not an astrologist.

"The choice" on CBC is now drumming on about the spoken word and how our brain processes it, reaching over I turn it up, I'm interested in words and the brain after all I am an armature.
writer.

Did you know that the brain can place the same word in different parts of it's memory depending on the visual association it places on the word. I now envision my brain as a computer full of saved files each on containing pictures and documents according to subject. Hmm, I wonder where the word love would go, I see flashes of my sweet heart in my mind's eye, then children, my mother and cinnamon rolls hot out of the over. That one must have been miss filed.

I look around for the snacks I brought, not cinnamon rolls just corn chips and juice. Taking a swig of juice I wonder if I am even facing east after all I drove around the bay a ways.

Getting out of my truck I survey the night sky- still no sign of the moon or Mars I think.

One am. "Dispatches" is now on CBC, I wonder if there would be some mention of the Mars and Moon alignment if I switch to a local radio station Pressing scan I get music, ten more music but a song I recognize it's 560 CFOS "Oldies over night".

I take one more look at the night sky and decide the moon must be behind the east escarpment, laying my head back I am lulled to sleep buy an old favourite tune while wondering what Mars looks like any way.

Two am. I awake with a stiff neck and feeling cold, I get out of the truck and once again search the night sky, nothing but twinkling stars laughing down at me as I realize I have been had.

Heading home I wonder why I hadn't thought to check out the facts on the Internet.
Parking the noisy truck I now no longer care who I wake up I am irritated by my foolishness.
I wrestle all my camera gear and snack food packages out of the truck then into the house. Clicking the mouse on the computer it lights up obediently to my touch. Search then I type in the Mars and Moon alignment, 2009
Mars as Big as the Moon (2009 edition) - Still Not True top of the list.

Feeling foolish I turn and close the open kitchen door, pat the dog and creep off to bed hoping not to wake my sleeping mate who will no doubt give me an "I told you so" or worse still laugh himself silly at my expense.