Sometimes persistence pays off.
Last night, even though the skies were not cooperating, I decided to break out the telescope and go to the park to offer the public an opportunity to dabble in astronomy.
I was also taking the opportunity myself to get out and see what the world might have in store for me. After a month of rainy or cloudy unsuitable Saturday nights for astronomy, I was ready to go.
The skies were dry but about two thirds covered with clouds. The Moon was out. Three of us had brought out telescopes, and Barb had brought out her large binoculars and tripod. Doug’s telescope was a relative of my own, and shared some of the same features.
As we set up, I complained that the more experienced among us seemed to unpack and set up their scopes in just a few minutes, while I had only been able to reduce my set-up time from thirty to about fifteen or twenty minutes. This was multiplied by four, since I was breaking down the set-up at home to pack, loading the car, setting up at the park, then taking it all down to take home, and then setting it out at home to let the dew dry off before putting it away.
I would be still setting up my tripod when others were all set up and ready to go. Doug pointed out that our tripods were similar, and said that while I was attaching the shelf (which was also making the tripod more rigid and stable), with thumb screws each time, a time consuming and labor-intensive task, he had just left the screws attached and facing down in his shelf, and used them as pins, placing the shelf between his tripod legs in one easy movement!
WOW!
Just like T’ai Chi!
A simple easy movement had replaced a complicated and much less efficient movement!
By persisting and showing up, I had moved forward in my practice!
A family with kids showed up, and the kids were delighted that we were there! Later, a group with a new telescope arrived, and we were off and running, enjoying the Moon even with less than perfect skies!
The thirty percent of the sky that was free of clouds later gave us not only the Moon, but also much of the summer triangle. The stories and experiences that we shared were delightful and rejuvinating.
A good time was had by all!
Peace, Daniel
