"Ascension in the Moonlight" Response

The theme of Winchester's essay, "Ascension in the Moonlight" is: some of the best experiences happen unexpectedly and from the hands of kind strangers. The experience that Winchester had was unexpected because he did not plan for anything that happened. He said, "I had no idea what he meant..."(Winchester 268). The events were a result of kind strangers. Winchester met Paul and Angela who took him to see the unique sightings. An example of effective language was when he said, "...and he winked at his wife conspiratorially, as if a drink at lunchtime was somehow mildly sinful,"(Winchester 266). This gives insight into the quirks of Paul and what is typical in their setting. Another example is when he says, "Only those lights, and the stars, broke the velvet blackness of the night,"(Winchester 270). This makes the scene clear and the word 'velvet' gives the darkness texture.