In Corning, California, the night sky was BLACK, and the stars were bright and alluring. As a child, I took every opportunity to enjoy the night sky while listening to the crickets and the owls at night. My dad knew more than most, about astronomy , and loved to teach what he knew.

One night while he was driving, I was looking up at the night sky as I laid on my back, (before seat belts). The sky filled with falling stars. Now, I know that this must have been the night of the Perseids Meteor Shower. The stars seemed to be falling down on us, like a shower. The car going around the country curved roads, and the magic of the active sky surrounding us, gave me an experience that I have never forgotten.

A few years later, my family went to Los Angeles. I was upset to see that all the stars had fallen down on earth, and the night sky was starless. Everything seemed upside down to me. It was as if I had stepped into a world which didn't know that it was out of step with nature. I'll never forget that parallel universe feeling.

The night sky continues to be a great joy to me, as I continue to learn more and more. When teaching about the night sky, I always hold that fascination. I believe the listeners catch the magic.