One of little Charlie’s favorite things to do with his dad was stargazing. On those special nights, little Charlie got to stay up well past his bedtime and watch shooting stars.

The best part, though, was that the conversations with his dad, and the questions that came up while they looked out into the big starry night, were so different and intriguing from the usual things Charlie thought about during the day.

There was something about the cool air and the silence that left him open to contemplations of life. This reflective thinking enlivened Charlie, and the time with his dad, he very much treasured as well.

As they sat on their back porch with their feet dangling, Mr. Tucker began to speak softly, “Charlie, can you hear the crickets and the frogs? Listen carefully.”

“Yes, they seem to be talking to one another, dad,” said Charlie, as he listened carefully and thought to himself that he would love to hold onto this moment with his dad for the rest of his life.

“Oh wow,” his dad said excitedly as Charlie was looking off into the backyard to see if he could possibly spot one of the frogs ribbetting, or even a cricket that would maybe jump into the moons’ rays.

“Oh no, was it a shooting star, pops?” Charlie asked, quickly shifting his attention back up into the sky. He moved a bit closer to the edge of the porch, as if to have a better view of the big, bold, star-studded, night sky.

“Yes, it was a big shooting star, and it had a long tail on it,” Mr. Tucker replied, pointing first at where the star had come from and then to where it had disappeared.

“Why don’t a lot of my friends stargaze with their families?” Charlie questioned, while still looking for another shooting star.

“I think a lot of people, and maybe some of your friends’ parents, have lost touch with the natural world and its glorious gifts like the stars. You know, people who live in the city can’t really see the stars that well either, so there is that, too,” he replied.

“I see, and then those people in the city should have stargazing tours and go way, way up into the mountains to see the night sky,” Charlie replied.

“That’s not a bad idea, my little man,” Mr. Tucker said, pulling Charlie closer beside him to keep him warm.

“Wow, look,” Charlie said in awe, as he pointed up in the sky and followed another star’s descent with his keen little eyes.

“Amazing,” Mr. Tucker replied, as he and Charlie both fell silent for some time as they watched the sky.

Breaking the silence, Mr. Tucker asked, “Do you want to go fishing? I know this big crater-lake up in the Interior, and the stars are even more amazing than tonight.”

“Fishing? Really? I’d love to go fishing, pops. That’s so exciting,” Charlie said, looking up and leaning into his pop’s shoulder again to continue stargazing.

“It is so dark up in the Interior, Charlie, you won’t be able to look for frogs after sunset, and you can’t even see two feet in front of you when you are walking at night. That’s how dark it is,” Mr. Tucker said, as if remembering.

“Really? Wow!” Charlie replied.

“Always remember to make time to look at the stars as you get older Charlie. Life can get pretty busy, but the time you spend with the natural world will always keep you fresh and vital,” Mr. Tucker said.

“How could I live without the stars? Every day I look to the sky, dad. I know there are stars out there, behind the clouds, and behind the blue sky,” Charlie responded, feeling huge appreciation for the sight before his eyes.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan