"Once in a Blue Moon" is not just a phrase that I used to hear every time a rare event occurs. Tonight it became a reality. The full moon occurred for the second time this month ... but it seemed that she was so blue that tears fell from the sky and caused the earth to tremble as she shivered with grief.
8:47pm, Friday, August 31, 2012 ... blue moon ... magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Mindanao and Samar.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) gave the temblor a preliminary magnitude reading of 7.9. It centered at 146 km (91 miles) E (96°) from Guiuan, Samar, Philippines, the USGS said.
The quake, which was 33 km deep, hit the area at around 8:47 p.m. It was felt in many parts of the country including Samar, Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, Iligan, Dipolog, Ozamis, Cebu, Bukidnon, Davao, Quezon City, Surigao, Butuan, Leyte and Bohol.
The quake was truly unexpected. I was playing with Tomiko, my shih tzu pup, when the house begun trembling ... slowly at first, and then the fearsome shaking begun. Darkness soon engulfed the brightness as the power went off. With the awful sounds of swaying cabinets, clicking glass and window blinds, paired with the call for God's intervention everywhere, I hastily went downstairs. With Tomiko in my arms, I fumbled for the match and the candle, and hastily turned off the power switches and the refrigerator. My father's rocking chair rocked vigorously while the water in my two aquariums spilled out because of the quake and the fishes swimming in panic. It just seemed to be the predicted end of days. It was frightening and real that anybody would realize what truly is worthwhile in life.
Thank God the quake did not last long, but it seemed endless. With the presence of the heavy rains, I can't help but ask, "Is the moon so blue that she can't help but cry and shiver?"
Perhaps. But why?
With her earth-trembling tears, today's blue moon is a rare phenomenon indeed!
---oOo---
Some facts about the Blue Moon:
The reason why we call it a 'blue moon' is lost to history, although the Farmers' Almanac would always note an occurrence during the 18th century.
With a full moon occurring once every 29 days, and a month topping out with a maximum of 31 days, the combination is a rare one - occurring around once every two-and-a-half years.
Sadly, we cannot expect the moon to take on a different hue. Barring volcanic eruption, it will remain as white as ever, unless clouds obscure the view.
Over the next 20 years there will be about 15 blue moons, with an almost equal number of both types of blue moons occurring. No blue moon of any kind will occur in the years 2011, 2014, and 2017.
From Elvis to Ella Fitzgerald, one of the classic popular songs for love-lorn people is 'Blue Moon'.
The 1934 song relates the tale of a man who finally found the love of his life - something that was so unexpected for him that it must have happened under a blue moon...
Well?
The more recent phenomenon, where the blue moon is considered to be the second full moon in a calendar month, last occurred on December 31, 2009. Two full moons in one month may occur in any month out of the year except for February, which is shorter than the lunar cycle.
The other, older blue moon event, which happens when there are four full moons in a season, last occurred in May 2008 and will again on Nov. 21, 2010. Since this type of blue moon is reckoned according to the seasons, it can only occur in February, May, August, or November, about a month before the equinox or the solstice.
---oOo---
The 1934 song relates the tale of a man who finally found the love of his life - something that was so unexpected for him that it must have happened under a blue moon...
"BLUE MOON"
Blue Moon
Blue Moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue Moon
You know just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And when I looked to the Moon it turned to gold Blue Moon
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
---oOo---
Note:
11:15pm - The blue moon stopped crying. Did it mean that her grief ended and her problem solved?
5:00am, September 1 - I was able to see a glimpse of the shy blue moon hiding behind the clouds, too shy to come out. Was the blue moon hiding from something?
5:00am, September 1 - I was able to see a glimpse of the shy blue moon hiding behind the clouds, too shy to come out. Was the blue moon hiding from something?
Well?
====================
References:
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment