tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post4081108956460679380..comments2023-11-03T12:44:19.948+01:00Comments on Orwell's Picnic ~: 100 Billion EarthsHilary Jane Margaret Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03771332473693479830noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-20681216634729667532009-02-27T15:57:00.000+01:002009-02-27T15:57:00.000+01:00Hilary,Somewhere back in the decade before the las...Hilary,<BR/><BR/>Somewhere back in the decade before the last, when I was a college junior at a northeastern state school, I took an astronomy class. I'll never forget the way the professor ended it.<BR/><BR/>On the last day of class for the semester, the professor, a very entertaining fellow, stood before the two-hundred odd skulls full of mush filling the lecture hall, and made a little speech I'll never forget. <BR/><BR/>With arms spread wide, he said, "This spring we've talked about galaxies, quasars, and black holes, suns, moons, nematodes, and meteors. We've talked about vast spaces, the speed of light, and gravity. We've talked about spinning worlds by the billions. It is magnificent. Now, I want to leave you with one final thought, and that thought is this - that all of that incomparable wonder isn't there for little green men to whiz about, or for monsters lurking in Martian caves, but that all of those wonderful glories are there, Simply. For. YOU! Now have a great summer!"<BR/><BR/>That's been my take on it ever since.<BR/><BR/>Oh, later, the next fall, I was at Mass. As the Communion line progressed passed me, who did I spy? That's right, my astronomy professor.<BR/><BR/>~ JonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com