Full Moon and Fog

A  blanket of fog obliterated our usual view of rooftops and palms. It was so unearthly that I got up several times during the night to peer out of the living room window. As the night went on, the fog became even thicker. Then at dawn, it suddenly dissipated. Rooftops and palm trees reappeared on the horizon. The sun came out and our first hint of spring was in the air.

I didn't entirely like that. I prefer mist and rain, in moderation, of course. If it goes on too long it can get depressing, but mostly I find cool weather to be mysterious and magical. It's the greenest time of year  in California -- and the quietest time in noisy Oakland. Delivery trucks, barking dogs, construction crews and freeway traffic: all is muffled by the fog. But at the first sign of warm weather, the construction crews renew their noise and the neighbors bring out their lawn mowers and leaf blowers. The neighborhood dogs get excited at the activity and start barking. And during rush hour, you can hear TV helicopters circling overhead.  

Sigh.  That happened yesterday after the fog disappeared.  But last night there was a full moon, round and glowing in the sky. That made up for everything.