It's Not All About The Stars

It was a beautiful night. And i was set up for another two hour run. Everything was correct. Excellent alignment. Tracking was spot on. I took a few test shots, started the process and stepped out of the observatory to let the equipment do it's work. For a while, i just looked at the sky. Watching for meteors, picking out the constellations i can identify. I even spotted the faint river of stars called the Milky Way so close to Deneb and Altair.  But after a while, i retired to the warmth of the house to wait out the process. The equipment didn't need me. It was time to take in an old episode of "Dr Who". When i returned to the observatory two hours later, the computer was locked up. a software issue had locked it up just twelve shots into the run. I am beginning to believe that some form of intelligent life near the Horsehead Nebula is actively working to sabotage my attempts to capture it in detail. Was i disappointed with the results? Of course. Was i disappointed with the night? No. It was beautiful. It was wonderful.

The photo was taken on a recent camping trip. It is simply two cousins getting to know each other. They are my grandchildren, Lacey Marie Ryan and Marek Donald Pettit.

I speak of Lacey first, because i have known her the longest. After watching her develop for six years, it is a joy to be with her. She is so curious about everything. When i can get her away from her grandmother, we walk the grounds, dig rocks from the dirt in the garden. We Discuss the different types of rock and what forces shape them. We pull plants and examine the root systems.  On a recent afternoon, i taught her to fly. We can't fly for very long, or for very far. Just a few inches, but with practice, i'm sure we will improve. We take great joy in gathering acorns together, occasionally finding a "double", and making a big deal out of finding a "triple". But she enjoys the observatory most. She is the only member of the family that can stand upright in it when it is closed. Actually it is just the right size for her. She doesn't get to view much with me. Bedtime is important to a growing body. But i try to make the most out of the time we have. I have explained the workings with her. let her focus in on trees, the Moon, Saturn. I'm not sure which of us enjoys the experience more.

I've only known Marek for a little over five months. We talk to each other a lot, but i have not yet mastered his language, we haven't discussed his key interests. I do not know if he is interested in any sciences at all. I think if he could tell me what he was interested in, the key points would be eating, sleeping, laughing, cooing, crying and pooping. But it is fun to watch him at this early stage of development. His eyes and ears taking in colors, sounds and shapes. His body learning the skills necessary for mobility. His hands exploring textures. He will grow, and hopefully i will get to enjoy sharing the observatory with him. By then he will be the only person in the family who is able to stand upright in it when it is closed. Actually, it will be just the right size for him.

My children think we are doing them a favor when Deb and i babysit the grandchildren. They are wrong. We are the ones that benefit from the experience. A child's curiosity is a wonderful thing, and i hope they can hold on to it throughout their life. I am just glad to experience some glimpse of life through their eyes. Does watching my grandchildren make me tired? Of course. Do i tire of my grandchildren? No. They are beautiful. They are wonderful.

clear skies...