Lunar eclipse photo courtesy of carsus/pixabay.com

It was Sunday, March 20. Grandpa Joe was sitting in his rocking chair by the lit fireplace. Tommy Tomorrow and his parents were visiting.

Grandpa Joe motioned with his index finger for Tommy to approach him.

Tommy dutifully walked up to Grandpa Joe and sat before his rocking chair.

“So…” Grandpa Joe began. “Did you get your secret message from the eclipse?”

Tommy looked up to the right as he pressed his lips together and thought hard. He sat like this for several seconds. Then he looked at Grandpa Joe, like one adult to another, and said, “I think so, Grandpa.”

“Well, what is it?” Grandpa Joe asked impatiently.

“If I tell you, then it won’t be a secret anymore,” Tommy wisely answered.

“That’s true,” Grandpa Joe said. “But if you don’t tell me, I cannot advise you properly as your astrologer.” Grandpa Joe gave Tommy a wink.

Tommy felt he was being manipulated, but he couldn’t help wanting to know the insights from his astrologer grandfather. “Okay. That sounds like a pretty fair deal,” Tommy said. “The message was, look before you leap, but after you leap, you can still come back and leap again tomorrow.”

“Interesting analysis…” Grandpa Joe said, taking off his hat and bringing it to just below his chin. “And have you leaped so far?”

“Grandpa Joe, I’m in the 3rd grade. I leap everyday!” Tommy said. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and whispered, “I’ve been trying to leap to the moon.” Heaven forbid his parents should find out.

“So you haven’t made it to the…” Grandpa Joe said in a normal volume before he cupped a hand to the side of his mouth and whispered “…moon.”

Tommy shook his head, smiled big, and gave Grandpa Joe an answer he did not expect. “I’ve been there in my imagination many times now. I imagined it clearest after this last eclipse. …So its message was that I’m getting closer.”

“Well, that’s wonderful news!” Grandpa Joe said, putting his hat back on his head and rocking back hard in his chair. “You know, I think, as your astrologer, I can tell you your special message is, don’t give up on your dreams. Keep visualizing them and leaping after them better and wiser.”

Tommy looked down and started fiddling with his shoelaces as he said, “Yeah, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell.”

Grandpa Joe was still fully engaged in the conversation. “This Wednesday, March 23, there will be a full moon lunar eclipse.”

“There’s another one!” Tommy said suddenly looking up. Grandpa Joe had his attention again.

“Yes, they come in pairs—a solar and a lunar eclipse—at least twice a year.”

“Woah! That’s a lot!”

“Now you won’t be able to see this one from Rainbow Falls…”

“I’m used to that by now,” Tommy said rolling his eyes and exhaling.

“The moon will be below the horizon in Rainbow Falls when the eclipse occurs. But you want to know the good news?”

“What?”

“It’s always safe to look at the moon.”

“Thank goodness!” Tommy said. “I look at the moon all the time!”

“This one will be an unusual lunar eclipse because it will be what’s called a penumbral lunar eclipse. This means only the faintest part of the earth’s shadow will be visible on the moon. Most people who can observe this lunar eclipse won’t notice any difference at all.”

“Well, if I could’ve seen it, I bet you I could see the difference!” Tommy said, pointing his thumb to his chest.

“I bet you could,” Grandpa Joe agreed. “Now this one will come with a special message, too. Again, you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m an expert at figuring out these eclipses’ messages by now.”

“I’m sure you are, Tommy. I’m sure you are. I can’t wait to hear what this second message will be for you.”

“Me, too, Grandpa. After me and Bobby, you’ll be the third to know.”

“Well, I couldn’t ask for much more than that!” Grandpa Joe said as he patted Tommy on the back.

Tommy got up and walked over to play with the celestial globe on Grandpa Joe’s end table. He wanted to position things to hold the eclipses in his hands.

For more information on the March 23 penumbral lunar eclipse, visit this website http://earthsky.org/tonight/penumbral-lunar-eclipse-on-march-23