Science fiction is said to inspire a sense of wonder. You know, if it’s done right it is. Is there moment where I felt a profound sense of wonder? Well, I see that one of your team members looked up at the Milky Way for the first time. There’s a couple of things that give me sense of wonder. There’s been a few times where I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to just sit in the dark here in the UP, which, of course, we’re far enough north, and there’s not a whole light pollution. Well, you know, if you know where to go. Like on Lake Superior for example, which is really an awesome place to do this, on a clear night. But to watch the Aurora Borealis, you know, the northern lights, they are absolutely amazing. And I swear I can hear the rush of the universe as it swirls above, you know, over my head and off and towards the horizon and stuff. It’s just — that really still just instills me with wonder. Seeing the stars as a kid, and you know, I don’t do that too much anymore, but seeing the stars in the Milky Way, that is another thing that’s just — you feel so insignificant, you know. I mean I just, it’s just amazing.
Another sense of wonder I have is at again the Lake Superior. The lake is just fantastic. You know, up here we call it “the lake” and everybody knows what lake you’re talking about. But when she’s roiled up and she’s just beating on the shore, she’s amazing. When she’s calm as glass, she’s amazing. It’s just a presence, an absolute presence that strikes one as almost a living thing and — I don’t know, I guess you kind of have to experience it. You know, sometimes we wonder — we don’t, you know, we’re not looking for these little things. I don’t know. As I’m getting older, I appreciate stuff like that. You know, stop and smell the roses type thing.
Another thing, speaking of stopping and smelling flowers, when we get the first dandelions in spring. If I’m walking down an alley, or taking a shortcut some place or something, you’ll see this one lonely little dandelion just poking its head up through the concrete and blacktop and just sticking its way up. It’s just really kind of cool. I don’t pluck the darn thing, of course. I mean anything that goes to that much trouble to exist, certainly should be. And besides, it’s the first flower of spring. Lord knows, we need flowers in the spring up here and it’s kind of awesome.