Sex Stars
Wednesday, 12 March 2008.
(Despite what your parental filter may tell you, this page has almost nothing to do with either copulation or the social exploitation thereof. Sorry to disappoint.)
Tonight marks itself as nigh-historic in my life: it’s the first time in years I've been able to see stars. While some might think this to be quite strange, it’s been entirely due to living in Troy: the combination of lights in both Troy and nearby Albany, and the fact that we're covered by a perpetual blanket of cloud, has blocked out all sight of stars for some time. (The fact that I'm a computerfiend might have something to due with it as well.) So, it should come as no surprise that when I walked outside tonight and saw stars, I was nearly dumbstruck, and couldn’t help but stare at the twinkling lights for some time.
Eventually, after scrutinizing each, there was a pair of stars almost directly above me—a large one and a little one, both sparkling in near-unison. Suddenly, while I was watching them, they drew closer and merged together! I continued watching, and after about ten seconds, it reappeared and moved to it’s original location, away from the larger one.
My wife was outside with me. I, simultaneously distracted and excited by the merest little stupid mote (as I often am, I'm surprised she doesn’t think I'm insane by now), shout to her: “Look! The two stars up there that are right next to each other: the big one just ate the little one!” She shot me a condescending look (as she usually does when I'm simultaneously distracted and excited by the merest little stupid mote) and says, “Maybe they're having sex.” (It would certainly explain why the stars were quivering.)
Why is it that I think of monstrous, world-sized death-beasts eating each other up, while another thinks of monstrous, world-sized sex-machines loving each other up? I almost want to be in the other camp, except that, to my American mind, thinking about war sounds grander than thinking about sex.
Anyway, now I feel like an intergalactic voyeur, which is one of, if not the, strangest feelings I've ever had.
