Coffee, Cocoa, and a Meteor Shower

Leonid Meteor Shower

About 11 years ago... I think it was 2001... I found out the Leonid meteor shower was on a November Saturday night/Sunday morning. It was going to be clear and visible here in North America with the best viewing times around 4am. I called my mom and told her about it. I wanted to get out of the city so I could view it, and since my folks don't live way out in BFE I figured that was a good choice. Well, mom was excited. She said she would get up with me and we'd watch it together.

So Sunday morning about 4am mom comes into the guest room and wakes me up. It sucks to get up that early... even for fun stuff. So I shuffled to the kitchen. Mom fixed herself some hot coffee. I fixed hot chocolate. And we headed out to the cold porch with our hot drinks and blankets to catch us some meteor action.

We sat down in the chairs and were chatting. We realized quickly that despite the middle of nowhere status of my parents house it may not be a great viewing spot. My folks place is up on a hill. And with all the leaves off the trees we have a great view of the lights from the runway at the air force base. So the sky wasn't exactly dark.

Since we couldn't see too well from the chairs we laid our blankets out on the porch, laid down and bundled up. After our eyes adjusted we did finally start to see some meteors. We laid there for a while talking and watching the sky. Finally we got too cold... cement will chill your bones in winter. We packed up and went back in. And I know I went the hell back to bed. :)

I don't remember what we talked about that night. I suppose it was nothing of consequence. But I always had a good time with mom. It was always easy. We don't get many people in the world who love us unconditionally. You have to cherish the ones who do. :)