My post on March 31, about the astronauts and their recent trip to the moon, received a lot of feedback.

Several readers brought it up at restaurants, on the phone, and by email. The subject even caused a major discussion, with a few raised voices, at Easter Dinner. The arguments for and against are based on feasibility. Those of us in love with the moon argued on the side of hope. Just think of the idea of a new start for humanity! No more climate disaster. No more wars. No more autocrats!

The naysayers felt differently: How could one even begin to build a livable settlement there without vegetation, water and especially AIR? The costs would be astronomical ( forgive the pun). And as for money, what about all the starving people in Gaza? Or homeless people in our own country, never mind Ukraine and Lebanon? And this doesn’t even account for all the money foolishly wasted on weapons of war.

One devoted reader of my posts usually sends very positive comments. Not this time. She began with “Please forgive me.” oh oh. Then she went on to say that it is “a childish fantasy to consider relocating our civilization to another planet” when we can Barely manage this one. That last part is certainly true!

A few days later she sent me some music, a Bette Midler song you probably know: “From a distance the world looks blue and green …there is harmony and it echoes through the land… the voice of hope… the voice of peace…. the voice of every man…” Jeremy Hansen would probably agree.

Then, after more thought, this same reader sent me a song by Ernie of Sesame Street fame. An adorable little video of Ernie the philosopher goes like this:
“Oh I’d like to visit the moon, but I don’t think I’d like to live there. I’d like to look down on the earth from above, but I’d miss all the places and people I love.” It’s a Youtube video and worth playing to your grandkids. Thank you so much Dorita.

Check it out on the Youtube channel

Meanwhile, back at home: the astronauts landed safely. All four emerged from their capsule into the bright sunshine, no doubt grateful for the ride, but happy to be home again. Their trip produced an incredible amount of data: using new technology to photograph the moon’s surface, checking out new communication tools, trying out the spacecraft’s design for living in a confined area with other people for an extended period of time.

And they came home in time to welcome Spring.

Yes! Spring IS here! The dirty piles of brown slush have finally melted. The snow tires are put away. The Blue Jays have begun their season. Our double duty oleander bush has been moved, from inside where it sits at Christmas festooned with lights, to the back yard patio where it blooms in bright red flowers all summer.

The first robin, plump with possibility, visited our driveway:

Actually, I would really miss the changing seasons on the moon.

Sue