Catch the Moon

On Friday night we went over to my folks house for dinner because Sean was in town. Jennifer and I drove separately (because I came from work) so at the end of the evening Benjamin got to ride in Dada's truck as we headed back home.

It was really late for him and he was in a foul mood because he was flat out exhausted. It was a fight trying to get him into the truck and he hollered as we drove off. He was still kicking and screaming when we entered our neighborhood when all of a sudden he caught a glimpse of the moon out of the side window. He did a complete one-eighty as the whine left his voice and he enthusiastically proclaimed, "I see the moon."

We talked about it for a few minutes as we were driving and every time I made a turn he would ask where it went and we would have to find it again.

When we got home I knelt next to him on the driveway as he stared up at it....but just for a moment because he started to take off down the sidewalk in his quasi-coordinated, clompy, Frankenstein run and yelled, "I catch the moon" but I had to catch him and explain to him that the moon is very big and very far away.

I went on to explain that the moon is there for everyone to share at night and I told him that one day if he worked really hard he could be an astronaut and stand on the moon.

He insisted that he was going to catch the moon and as we stood there on the driveway, the light from the moon was reflecting off his little pale cheeks and his eyes had a flicker of excitement and wonder in them. He had this little sly smile on his face as if to say, "No Dad, listen to me. I AM going to catch the moon."

It was one of those moments that, as a parent, you cherish. I pray that over the years my mind's eye doesn't forget that look on his face.

And I hope he does catch the moon.