There was a captivating moon this week, so luminous I almost pulled the car over to call my kids and tell them to go outside to see it. I wondered how it had swollen to a size that overtakes the sun. Yet it was not oppressive in its magnitude. Just noble.

The cloak of night settles down around us earlier than it did last month. Even as we were slicing up homemade pizza and pumpkin pie, the windows were black. My instinct was to tug a quilt over my lap and grab a basket of handwork. Stay home, in the light. 

But sometimes there are places to go even after twilight has scattered to the far side of the earth. There are people still awake who deserve to have me show up. Because I said I would. So I go. 

Relationships ebb and flow much like the dance of lucence and shadow. One day I feel brightness toward my spouse, and children, and coworkers. A few spins of the clock later and my mood is dusky. The temptation to withdraw yanks me, like a tide.  

But the seasons have shown me that darkness does not rule forever. There are sunny after dinner walks in my future, on the other side of seven full moons.

Besides, I said I would show up for my people. So I will.