Wanted to put these words down before I succumb. Saw fifty of them. Last three were tough. Falling deeper and deeper. Began to find my place before Nox. This place before Delta and Beta. Right at REM.
Had no power to effect the outcome. Like I ever did? All I could do was keep my eyes open. Just watch. No power. No control. No ability, except to keep eyes wide. They would tear in the desert night. Was out there for an hour. Tired. Cold. Sleepy. Winds blew lightly, but sharply. Heard the sounds of howling dogs carry in the night. Motorcycles revved. Morning still a ways.
Three stars traveled from 8 o’clock to 2 o’clock. Stared at the weak lights, reminded me of the Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade. Saw the W constellation, well, that is what I call them. I think it was Cassiopeia. They would flash alone and in pairs. Most of them streaked white. Occasional. Green. Saw a red one, too. Not sure if it was me hallucinating. Just kept my eyes open. A couple of times battled the fall. Almost didn't get up. The winds were biting still. No more gnawing. Not the nice chewing slowly, Jaws like chomps this time. Still, I sat there and rocked.
Sometimes there were the flashing ones. Not really what I was looking for, but still they streaked across slowly. Maybe it was Delta. Perhaps it was JetBlue. Could have been the B-2 Spirit. It was dark and I was tired. Looked like Batman's plane.
Still the Fifty was my goal just the same.
Had no power to effect the outcome. Like I ever did? All I could do was keep my eyes open. Just watch. No power. No control. No ability, except to keep eyes wide. They would tear in the desert night. Was out there for an hour. Tired. Cold. Sleepy. Winds blew lightly, but sharply. Heard the sounds of howling dogs carry in the night. Motorcycles revved. Morning still a ways.
Three stars traveled from 8 o’clock to 2 o’clock. Stared at the weak lights, reminded me of the Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade. Saw the W constellation, well, that is what I call them. I think it was Cassiopeia. They would flash alone and in pairs. Most of them streaked white. Occasional. Green. Saw a red one, too. Not sure if it was me hallucinating. Just kept my eyes open. A couple of times battled the fall. Almost didn't get up. The winds were biting still. No more gnawing. Not the nice chewing slowly, Jaws like chomps this time. Still, I sat there and rocked.
Sometimes there were the flashing ones. Not really what I was looking for, but still they streaked across slowly. Maybe it was Delta. Perhaps it was JetBlue. Could have been the B-2 Spirit. It was dark and I was tired. Looked like Batman's plane.
Still the Fifty was my goal just the same.
Thought of Russell. Thought about Jewel and what she said. Thought M, Kev, Luz, Mom, Precie, Lynn, and Dorian. Thought of Brian. Thought of Dad, Mike. Prayed for them. Wished them well. Good fortune and good health. Wished for other things. Had Fifty of them. Could have lied and gone early. Pretending, but that is not me. That would be lying to myself. Guess, I was reinforced. Guess, it was genetic. Guess, it was a blessing and curse.
Still, I sat there and rocked in the dark, windy night.Thankfully, it was biting. Kept me awake and woke me as I fell. Imagined what it would have been like at the Bowl. Probably was Fourth of July Celebration.Went to Griffith, but no one would let us in. Russell from around the world said they were closed Monday and Tuesday. Budget cuts.
Still, I sat there and rocked in the dark, windy night.Thankfully, it was biting. Kept me awake and woke me as I fell. Imagined what it would have been like at the Bowl. Probably was Fourth of July Celebration.Went to Griffith, but no one would let us in. Russell from around the world said they were closed Monday and Tuesday. Budget cuts.
Wrapped in a white and purple blanket, I sat in the backyard and looked up. Skies were bright dark. It had a bowl shaped. City lights outlined its base. Still the Three Stars kept moving. Maybe I was hallucinating. Wasn't sure at the time.
Closed eyes a few times trying to imagine something. Asked myself in the dark, "What was that thing I was imagining again?" Heard "Just keep the eyelids shut." Imagine. "Rest. Sleep. Sleep. Nox, is that you?"
Damn It! It was the body tricking me to sleep. It was the body's call for rest. Sneaky trickster! Shocked awake by the bite of the ice winds at my legs. I cursed myself. Stop imagining and look up.
Thought of Glitter. Remembering those nights talking in the dark on the swing. Thought about the night camping in the van with family and friends. Thought about camping at Yosemite and Pinon Hills. Thought how life is brief. Thought about someone doing the same thing I did a thousand years ago. Thought about some future stargazer. Imagined how the stars formed shape.
Saw number forty-eight. That was nice. Nice long streak. Two more, then I could rest.
Saw number forty-eight. That was nice. Nice long streak. Two more, then I could rest.
Still, I waited. And waited. And waited. Heard again, "Come On." It was the body again.
They came earlier in short half-second scants. Flash here. Flash there. It was a light show. Once in awhile, streaks would last longer. Thought of fishing and how the season, location, fishers would came in to play. Thought about how many showers I've missed before. Thought, How I don’t want to miss anymore.
Last two times were at the Bowl. They were disappointing. Lost in the middle of the deep, dark. Scared, thinking "I told no one. No one knew where I was. There was no reception. No one would could find me." Thought of 127 Hours movie.
Then all off sudden, a light at in the dead of night. It streaked. Streaked on the path I was just on. Found someone on my same journey (I hoped to the Bowl). I turned around followed. Almost didn't see the kids when I passed the gates. Thankfully I didn't hit one. Stayed there for an hour, waiting in dark like tonight. Sat there cold, searching. It was nothing compared to tonight.Six or seven in an hour. Tonight I caught fifty wishes in an hour. The second Bowl visit, no one was there. Not going to stay and wait for others. So I returned home.
Forty-nine. Nice. One more.
They came earlier in short half-second scants. Flash here. Flash there. It was a light show. Once in awhile, streaks would last longer. Thought of fishing and how the season, location, fishers would came in to play. Thought about how many showers I've missed before. Thought, How I don’t want to miss anymore.
Last two times were at the Bowl. They were disappointing. Lost in the middle of the deep, dark. Scared, thinking "I told no one. No one knew where I was. There was no reception. No one would could find me." Thought of 127 Hours movie.
Then all off sudden, a light at in the dead of night. It streaked. Streaked on the path I was just on. Found someone on my same journey (I hoped to the Bowl). I turned around followed. Almost didn't see the kids when I passed the gates. Thankfully I didn't hit one. Stayed there for an hour, waiting in dark like tonight. Sat there cold, searching. It was nothing compared to tonight.Six or seven in an hour. Tonight I caught fifty wishes in an hour. The second Bowl visit, no one was there. Not going to stay and wait for others. So I returned home.
Forty-nine. Nice. One more.
Thought again about tiny pool balls crashing into each other. I remember the words of the father few hours earlier tonight. He asked his kids about the asteroid belt as I stood under Copernicus and Keppell. Thought of that games Asteroids. that one sole ship spinning right and left. Firing away. Blasting planets to dust.
As I stood there at the Griffith Obelisk, I wondered why no one was let in. Still people came in. Like I did. A meeting was happening in back and I wasn’t a part. Some brought scopes. Some just walked. Don't they at the Observatory, know there is a shower tonight? That's what the internet said about the Geminid showers. Maybe, I was wrong?
Then I remembered. My time was not really my own. Had to get them safe home after this long cold day. Maybe I could get to the Bowl. Boycotted dinner plans for the group at Uncle Juhn's because I wanted to see shooting stars. Its my Driver's Veto I exercised. Heard one say the shower's peak is at one in the morning. Can't stay that long. They got to work in the morning. No stars at the Observatory anyways. Just the flashing lights of helicopters and planes in the sky. Time to go home.
Hope to see one shooting star. Instead saw Christmas lights. Instead saw the red and green fountains of Mulhulland. Saw a family of reindeer, Christmas light reindeer. Wished my former camera was working. I missed the night and zoom setting. Focus I have now is tiny to what I had before. I miss the sport shot.
As I stood there at the Griffith Obelisk, I wondered why no one was let in. Still people came in. Like I did. A meeting was happening in back and I wasn’t a part. Some brought scopes. Some just walked. Don't they at the Observatory, know there is a shower tonight? That's what the internet said about the Geminid showers. Maybe, I was wrong?
Then I remembered. My time was not really my own. Had to get them safe home after this long cold day. Maybe I could get to the Bowl. Boycotted dinner plans for the group at Uncle Juhn's because I wanted to see shooting stars. Its my Driver's Veto I exercised. Heard one say the shower's peak is at one in the morning. Can't stay that long. They got to work in the morning. No stars at the Observatory anyways. Just the flashing lights of helicopters and planes in the sky. Time to go home.
Hope to see one shooting star. Instead saw Christmas lights. Instead saw the red and green fountains of Mulhulland. Saw a family of reindeer, Christmas light reindeer. Wished my former camera was working. I missed the night and zoom setting. Focus I have now is tiny to what I had before. I miss the sport shot.
Still Sony will do for now. My needs have grown this digital camera. Alas, I will wait. Still so much to learn. I am imagining again. Body is winning.
Ah, Fifty.
My finishing line has been broken. It Nox's turn. I will succumb. Time to meet my dreams and just REM it.I got my Fifty.
Ah, Fifty.
My finishing line has been broken. It Nox's turn. I will succumb. Time to meet my dreams and just REM it.I got my Fifty.
