I Always Liked Oats - Short Planetarium Fiction

I Always Liked Oats .. a very short planetarium story from HPA

time for supper! announced mom .. and GARY .. COME OUT OF THE CLOSET

gary winced - a 17 yearold kid like him liked to be secretive, but it hadnt been easy .. he'd been in the large converted pantry all day doing 'something' and couldnt help but come out once or twice for black construction paper .. staples.. glue.. tape

all through dinner Gary seemed preoccupied .. Dad intoned his ususual tale of his day .. the girls (garys sisters) giggled about this boy or that.. as soon as supper was cleared away, Gary returned to the entranceway of the pantry, but turned and said loudly

SHOW IN 30 MINUTES!

show? asked mom? she was still puzzling why gary her son had emptied the quaker oats box after breakfast that morning .. it had disappeared...

show? asked the sisters .. yet they curiously were ushered into the large pantry and sat on the flloor.

last came dad.. his glasses perched on his nose .. and mom joined him

gary drew a curtain over the entrance and confronted his dubious family on the floor .. shutting off the light he unvelied the quaker oats box .. it had hundreds of holes carefully punched in it .. a light was within ..

before his family could react .. a gasp was heard .. the oats carton exploded into pinpoints of light ..and the closet ceiling .. transformed into a makeshift dome with paper and glue ..

revealed the glory of the heavens

how did you do this son? his father asked from his place over by the entrance..

well started gary

I always liked oats ....

Life in the Rear View Mirror

Life in the Rear View Mirror

In any endeavor of our hearts, the quick passing of time renders them quickly in the rear view mirror. Cars are so much of our culture, that analogy needs no explanation. But some rear view mirrors said OBJECTS MAY BE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR

And we are taught by drivers ed .. or uncle ed. or mom or dad... always check the mirrors before passing ...

Thats good advice. Because arent we always passing ... onto tomorrows new adventures or trials ..

So how to apply this general statement to Planetariums. Home Planetariums. It might apply to model railroads. Or groups who meet to discuss ...

Museums are rear view mirrors. Newsletters are rear view mirrors. Anything we write and preserve. This very board we are posting on .. want to see what we said about lenses in 06? Its here somewhere ..

Want to see what an STP looks like? Its here .. Want to see when Dick Emmons said before he passed? Its here. Want to see all those who came and contributed but now we cant find them? They live on here. Want to see childhood influences? They live here.

In the rear view mirror.

But take it deeper. Want to go back to 1963 when you were young and sat enthralled? Its here. Want to relive incredible accomplishments that our ancestors came up with? Here. Want to feel joy you might have not felt for decades? Maybe it lives it here. Filtered through decades of 'life'

Life in the Rear View Mirror. We cannot live nor dwell in the past.

But what a treat indeed it is to preserve it as we do. HPA has its archives of lectures, newsletters. The Museum has incredible works of engineering. Our friends and associates around the globe have an incredible collection of experience, stories, knowledge. Thats when the Rear View Mirror can become the Future View Mirror.

the Future View Mirror. or Ahead View Mirror

Remembering the past why cant we take the best parts and build upon them. Learn from the mistakes and then forget them.

Life in the Rear View mirror isnt really living in the past. Its storehouseing the accumulated wisdom. A well one can dip in for fresh inspiration.

Objects may be Closer than they Appear

I wouldnt have it any other way.