'Just beyond the moon'

By Sharon Craig of Granite Falls

A long time ago, my husband and I enjoyed the words to a song that we had heard. Tex Ritter, Western/Country music star, sang the song  Just Beyond the Moon.

Through the years, we’d hear the song and we’d say to each other that just beyond the moon is where we’d meet when one of us passed away.

A short while ago, I wrote a story for the Sr. Perspective newspaper, (60 Years and Counting). Little did I know that it would be our last anniversary together.

We had such a wonderful 60 years together. How fortunate I  was. I married a man with three beautiful children. So, our little ‘patchwork quilt’ of a family began our journey.

We lost our oldest son 28 years ago – he contracted Hep ‘C’ in a foreign country, while in the Navy. Our middle son has battled cancer three times. He is a survivor to this day. Our baby daughter fast became our angel. She was also her daddy’s baby girl and his little Sweet Pea. How did I ever get so lucky? I did not know that I would not be able to have children. God indeed had another plan for me... raising three children that belonged to my new husband.

The lyrics to Just Beyond the Moon keep running through my thoughts... “I’ll walk just beyond the moon, then I’ll stop and wait for you.”

I lost the love of my life on January 12, 2026. The caring and meaningful care my husband received before he passed away in Avera Granite Hospital was so wonderful and truly helped our family in many ways.

Before he left for his amputation surgery, I asked him where we’d meet, if he found he couldn’t come back to me. His answer was, “Honey, I’ll meet you just beyond the moon, then I’ll stop and wait for you.” ... and so we will!

Graphic by Zada Engen