Fly Me To The Moon

 And let me play among the stars...

I'm still reading articles on the discoveries of the James Webb Telescope. It's hard to differentiate between the crazies and the scientists.  The former tend toward a prediction of the end times.  The experts are giving us facts that I'm still finding hard to grasp.  

UCF planetary Scientist Noemi Pinilla-Alonsos was among the first to see the galaxy clusters, cosmic ridges and new stars 13 billion lightyears away at the edge of time and the birth of the universe.  I love her quote below:

It holds key information on the first stages of the formation the solar system.  We know that we all are made of the same materials that form the solar system, in reality, and that is one part of that inventory of materials that we don't know.  So knowing about the first stages of the solar system is knowing about ourselves.

That last sentence is so very exciting. 

I saw an older episode of "Young Sheldon" last night.  Sheldon was questioning his Baptist minister about the nature of God.  He was asking if God is the savior of (just) the world, or the universe.  The minister was completely flummoxed.  

I would recommend that Pastor Jeff read "Your God is too Small" by J. B. Phillips.

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Twinkle, Twinkle

 Twinkle twinkle little star

When I attend my daily water aerobics group we sing the twinkle song while exercising our arms and fingers.  This week it has reminded me of the James Webb telescope photos.  

How I wonder what you are

Years ago I was a huge Carl Sagan fan and have done my best to wrap my brain around these latest photos of the vast unknown.  But I cannot. 

Up above the world so high 

These photos take us far beyond our galaxy; lead us far beyond the Big Bang theory.  I cannot begin to grasp what this means,  By the way, the best words I know to explain the Big Bang are the song lyrics from the TV show, Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state, then fourteen billion years ago, expansion started, wait...The earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool... 

What I do know is that these photos give me an even greater sense of God's power and glory.  They remind me of the book of Revelation.  The true meaning is yet to be revealed. 

Like a diamond in the sky.

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The Greatest Country Song of All Time

George Jones

He said I'll love you 'till I die

I finally got around to reading the featured article about country music in the current AARP magazine and was reminded that many experts consider "He Stopped Loving Her Today" as the greatest country song of all time.  

And furthermore, Rolling Stone magazine named "He Stopped Loving Her Today" as number 275 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.  So, not just a country song, but all songs ever written!

I just don't get it.  Country music is loaded with sad songs.  By the way, my favorite is "Sunday Morning Comin' Down" as sung by Johnny Cash. 

Written in 1980 by Bobby Braddok and Curly Putman, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" was recorded by the sad and brooding George Jones.  

I've read that Jones hated the song when he first heard it.  He thought it was too long, too sad, and too depressing.

Well, hey, isn't that an excellent description of  country songs?  

He stopped loving her today

They placed a wreath upon his door

And soon they'll carry him away

He stopped loving her today 

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I Love My AARP Magazine

 

Many  people dread that first AARP Magazine arriving in the mail.  It's a sign that they've been thrown into a new phase of life - whether they want it or not. 

I loved mine from the beginning.  The most recent features country music but my favorite article is called "I Witnessed History."  It depicts eight stories told by normal, every day folks who unexpectedly landed in the middle of a significant event in history.  

One of my favorite's was written by 78 year old Mary Robinson.  In 1980 her husband was transferred to London.  Mary would be working part time so she had to find a baby-sitter for a couple of days a week to care her baby boy, Patrick.  

The agency sent over an 18 year old Diane Spencer.  Yes, that Diane Spencer! 

Diane and Patrick

 She became very fond of Mary and Patrick. When the family moved back to the states, "these little blue airmail letters started arriving."  

Then, in 1981, a note came saying that Mary and her husband would be receiving an invitation to the wedding.

Yes, that wedding!

For the rest of Diane's life the two women stayed in touch.  The last visit the had was a lunch at Kensington Palace with just Diane, Mary, and her two children. 

The next, and final time they were together was when Lord Chamberlain invited Mary to the funeral in 1997.

Every one of the eight stories is spellbinding.  Be sure to look at your current copy - if you're old enough.

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