As children, we all dream of growing up to pursue our favorite career, which can change as quickly as the days. My earliest memory is of wanting to be a race car driver. I loved when my dad would take my sister, Michelle, and I out for Sunday afternoon rides on country roads in his 1968 Chevy Camaro Z28 equipped with a racing engine, reaching speeds probably not too safe in retrospect.
While I never gave up my love of driving fast cars, I did change my mind many times as to my career choices, and even considered being an astronomer. I would spend countless hours in the back yard staring up at the sky, counting stars and hoping to see shooting stars. This interest lasted long enough that my parents bought me a rather nice telescope.
While I didn’t pursue a career in astronomy, I still have a life-long love for gazing at the night sky. I’m always looking up at night to catch the changing light of the moon, to enjoy the twinkle of the stars and the planets, and every time I see the Milky Way spread over Lake Tahoe it takes my breath away. That’s one of the many reasons I enjoy Tahoe Star Tours so much. Tony Berendsen still has that child-like twinkle of excitement in his eyes during each star tour. His passion and love for astronomy is evident, and that translates into an amazing experience at his tours. I look forward to each tour I’ve enjoyed with Tony, and I hope you will take the time to enjoy one, too. Read more in “Star Light, Star Bright” in this issue
