A couple of years ago, we had some friends come up for a vacation. While we were sitting around the fire, their three kids were down on the dock. Suddenly, they came running up to us, upset and screaming that there were UFOs everywhere. As responsible adults, we quickly hurried down to the dock. What they saw as UFOs were actually stars, specifically stars of the Milky Way. It's sad that city kids rarely get the chance to witness such a sight, which for me is an everyday occurrence. The Milky Way, in particular, holds a special place in my heart.
For those who are unaware of my background, I spent several years as a private contractor for the US Military. It was a rather strange situation considering I am a Canadian. During that time, I realized that certain events could trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While I didn’t suffer from it as severely as some of my friends, I did experience anxiety from time to time, and it could take me to a very dark place. My way of coping was to go out into the woods in the middle of the night and be among the bears and wolves. During those moments, my pulse rarely exceeded 70 beats per minute. As I sit here typing, my pulse is at 83 beats per minute. This is how I fell in love with the Milky Way and the stars.
For those who are unaware of my background, I spent several years as a private contractor for the US Military. It was a rather strange situation considering I am a Canadian. During that time, I realized that certain events could trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While I didn’t suffer from it as severely as some of my friends, I did experience anxiety from time to time, and it could take me to a very dark place. My way of coping was to go out into the woods in the middle of the night and be among the bears and wolves. During those moments, my pulse rarely exceeded 70 beats per minute. As I sit here typing, my pulse is at 83 beats per minute. This is how I fell in love with the Milky Way and the stars.
