Sometimes taking a spontaneous road trip has more rewards than one can imagine. Last weekend, my youngest son & I took a spur of the moment weekend trip to Cincinnati, where, as the stars began to twinkle as the sun set, we ventured to meet some friends at the historic Cincinnati Observatory Center.
That evening I had the privilege of meeting the next Einstein, or possibly the leader of the first manned mission to Saturn. That is, when he grows up a little. His name is CJ, a 10-year-old boy from Ohio whose knowledge of the universe and the way it works surpasses many of the adults I know today, and certainly mine when I was his age.
He came to the observatory to learn how to better operate the telescope he got for Christmas. Lucky for me, the astronomy staff was short and I was asked to conduct a hands-on telescope training session with CJ, his brother and his grandfather.
I wish I could adequately express the enthusiasm CJ shared towards the cosmos. As I fiddled with his small, rickety telescope he eagerly listened, talked and learned how to align the finderscope, determine magnification and how to keep his optics in good shape. We then went outside to improve his skills by pointing his scope at the Moon, Venus and a few other objects. He did so with splendid ease, asking questions, sharing facts and absorbing knowledge like a sponge. His 6-year-old brother was interested as well (a little more so than my 6-year-old who was making snowballs and playing with pinecones all the while—he’s more of the “summer astronomer” type). CJ’s grandfather was enthusiastic and passionate about supporting his grandson’s newfound interest. What lucky boys they were to have such a supportive grandfather and parents.
As the night went on, CJ’s curiosity just kept growing (despite the cold that was making his grandfather & I long for the hot coffee back inside the observatory building). He reminded me so much of myself when I was young, and I hoped I was being as helpful to him as my mentors were for me. By the end of the night, I’m not sure who had the most fun—CJ was sparkling with a passion for exploring the stars, and I was glowing for sharing such a rewarding experience.
It’s fun to think how taking just a few minutes to share some knowledge can make a difference. I’m sure CJ is going to make a difference some day. I’m just glad I had a small part as his world unfolds.