Each and every year, I get response emails after the fact describing the indescribable-the feelings of joy and amazement from visitors at what they've witnessed through our volunteer's telescopes. This year, we had one in real time. On Monday night, there was a father and his 8 year old daughter. I remember her vividly-Blonde hair to her shoulders, bright eyes and literally jumping up and down waiting for a view and after having seen one. I heard her exclamations across the field as she went from one scope to another. Tuesday morning, Jon Webb and Chris Hanrahan were showing the Sun from the veranda. The young girl were there again, having stayed an extra night. Once again, she was literally jumping up and down for a view, asking her dad, "Please, please daddy, can we stay another night?!" He said they already had and had to go. They left, but when Jon and Chris returned to the truck, they found a note. (I'll scan a copy and post it, if Chris hasn't already.) It reads, in very nice penmanship for an eight year old, "Thank you, I really enjoyed the star party. it was my first time looking in a telescope to see planets. I really liked looking at saturn with the rings. I hope I come back next year. I hope you have a vacation Because you made mine so fun. :-) Lauren" Her dad then writes, "Thanks again, guys, we really appreciate your time and effort!! Best regards, Rich." I was at my campsite with several others when Jon and Chris pull up in the truck. They literally burst from the truck, run over to us brandishing the note. I swear, Jon was 3 feet off the ground. After reading it and passing it around, we all agreed; THIS is exactly why we do this each year. The whole reason for our being there is to generate this type of reaction. When it happens in real time like this, it just makes it that much better! Priceless. Steve Dodder Coordinator, Grand Canyon Star Party, North Rim Chairman, SAC Novice Group Director, Stone Haven Observatory sdodder@xxxxxxxxxxx Visit my web site at http://www.stonehavenobservatory.com > From: Skylook123@xxxxxxx > Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2012 19:54:06 -0400 > Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: GCSP 2012 North Rim > To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Nice write-up, Steve. Interesting to have the windbreak on the veranda; > we just get the wind on the South Rim. With my granddaughters running our > two scopes for the last couple of years, I haven't really done the scope > looking thing much, but doing short sky walks with the folks waiting to look > through the girls' scopes, and the official constellation tours once or > twice a night (love that Merlin line), has been a great enhancement to my own > > nights. > > Sorry to hear about Bill's stumble. Hope he and his scope both recover > well. > > And sounds like you did a couple of great talks. Thanks for the news from > the cozy North. > > Jim O'Connor > South Rim Coordinator > Grand Canyon Star Party > gcsp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.