Pillars of Creation,( photo from NASA.) It's five light-years high. Five light-years high! Incubator of stars. 6,500 light-years from Earth -- so far, in fact, that the pillars may actually have collapsed 6,000 years ago after a star exploded.
"Because light from this region takes 7,000 years to reach Earth, we won't be able to capture photos of the destruction for another 1,000 years or so," says one NASA scientist. (More fun facts HERE)
This picture and all that it implies leaves me absolutely gob-smacked and delighted with the wonder that is our universe. Also, a little breathless, a little, well, queasy at all that magnitude. My mind trembles on the edge of making sense of it all.
So I spend a little time, staring at the soap suds in my kitchen sink. (my photo, not NASA's)
They're pretty cool too. And a lot more understandable.
And speaking of making sense of things, my post the other day about end-of life discussions brought some really good comments, here on the blog, on Facebook, and in my email.
Wayfarin' Stranger sent me a terrific poem titled "Drop Dead" by Tamara Madison from Writer's Almanac. Follow THIS LINK to read it.
Quite a few of you all already have your plans in order -- others appreciated the reminder.
My favorite message was from our friend Cory, who, when in his twenties, had a non-malignant brain tumor that had to be removed. An operation that could have gone very wrong -- but didn't
Cory wrote: I've been discussing end of life plans with your son for very nearly 20 years, a topic that became a bit too close for comfort 9 years ago. What i can say on the matter is, yes... Get your plans in order, be prepared for the worst, not just because the worst could happen (at any moment) but because of the simple relief that is afforded, even in the best case, by knowing your shit is in order. Further, the mere exercise in aligning my waterfowl i found extremely comforting. My mortality won't change, so i may as well cozy up to it, contemplate it, and enjoy the hell out of the time afforded me.
It's going to be my new motto:My mortality won't change, so i may as well cozy up to it, contemplate it, and enjoy the hell out of the time afforded me.
And align my waterfowl.
