A Trail Name That Shines

Damn it. Every episode of This is Us brings me to tears.

I found Season 5’s “One Small Step” to be especially touching. The story radiates with infinite possibility as the Pearsons watch Neil Armstrong land on the moon on July 20, 1969. In this episode, we are also introduced to Sally, a free-spirited hippie photographer who works with Nicky at the animal shelter. On their first date, Nicky and Sally go to the top of Mount Washington to view the beautiful moon, beholding the fact that men from our planet Earth had just set foot there. 

“Tell me why you love her?” Sally asks Nick.

“The moon?  Nick stutters.  I love the moon because it’s the Earth’s personal satellite. It’s like the night-light we can all count on. It’s always there, but different every night. And no matter where you are in the world, we’re all looking up at the same moon.”  

Just wow.

I found a quote by writer Adam Stanley with a similar statement. “No matter where we are from each other, in distance or in time, when we look up into a clear night sky … we will always see the same moon.”  
Thinking about my family, I bought a small chain necklace with a star and the moon for each of the girls and one for myself. For my son, a leather bracelet. Perhaps when we are missing each other this small token will be a reminder of our love, and a promise of my return.

La Luna, the moon.  Powerful femininity of light in the darkness, she is a representation of optimism and new beginnings.  She symbolizes death, birth, and resurrection. I imagine that I will experience death, birth, and resurrection many times during my journey on the AT, so the trail name Luna seems to fit perfectly.

 The truth is that I am extremely nervous about starting my trek next week, so maybe you can help me out. Go outside, take a look up at the sky, and ask the moon to guide me in any darkness.  On Thursday, I’ll be signing into the register at Springer Mountain as “Luna”. Walking into the woods, I will be shooting for the moon.