A Week in December, 2010
Kathleen here, December 22, 2010
From the Sands of Iwo Jima to a sunset on the Gulf, then the blush of The Old Man in the Moon. Yes really, this is what we saw this past week.
Over by the Harlingen, Texas Airport there is a Memorial to fallen Marines from all the wars fought since November 1776. The statue stands in a small park across the street from a WWII museum. This statue is the sculpture that was used in casting the famous “Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima“ Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA. One can study each face of the five Marines and one Navy Corpsman. The intricate work of the uniforms and facial expressions were carefully crafted using the three survivors of Iwo Jima as models and photographs of the three who were lost in battle. We watched a video about Iwo Jima and walked through the museum dedicated to the United States Marine Corp. We left with heavy hearts but hearts also bursting with pride and gratitude for the soldiers who fought that battle and all battles.
The following day we drove over to South Padre Island and watched the sun set with our friends Bill and Margaret. We never seem to get enough of seeing that old orange ball sink into the sea. We were not the only ones enjoying the sight. A pelican was also mesmerized.
On the night of the Winter Solstice, the early morning hours of December 21, I beheld a beautiful sight. The total lunar eclipse - so far away, so straight up in the sky. I pulled out our binoculars and camera and watched and watched. I couldn't leave until the moon was completely in the Earth’s shadow. The moon darkened and as the Earth moved along its orbital path casting its shadow on the surface of the moon, the dazzling white orb took on an orange hue as if it had been dipped in a cup of dye. The night was darker for a while. To the east of this fantastic display, I saw the constellation Orion. We are too far south to see the Big Dipper which points to the North Star. I miss that. On crisp cold dark nights back in Wisconsin, I could easily pick out this constellation as I looked toward La Crosse. The North Star was always where it should be.
We will soon be in Seattle where one cannot easily enjoy viewing celestial bodies, but the joy of spending Christmas with those we love best will far out weigh our week of site seeing.
We wish all of our readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless all of you.
