[Chaos-l] Good memories MASP will be missed

[Allen Davis]

I remember the first MASP many moons ago.when it was held in June.  It
rained so much that year that we nicknamed it the Mid Ocean Star party.
After that John decided to hold it in October each year, which probably was
a wise decisions.

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My past observing buddy Tim and I had met not too long before the MASP
started.just say a good long time ago.   I don't remember.  There was also a
couple from the Wilson area, Billy and Domitta, who always went to the MASP
each year..it was their main event of the year.  Even when the weather
wasn't great we had a good time visiting.  And I remember many times off an
on that even those cloudy nights opened up and we were able to see something
memorable.  Why, the very first MASP the weather was bad, but one morning we
awoke and were able to see Saturn through the clouds.  The rings were
perfectly edge on that year, and we saw one of Saturn's moons perched like a
tiny pearl on the underside of the ring.  Hey that may date it.maybe 1995?

 

What I do remember are the many years at the Boy Scout camp where I saw
friends each year and saw them no where else.  I met Kirby Wilkins there
many years ago.  I also met Bruno one year there around 15 year ago.  That
was when he had a Meade 12.5 and we saw a great view of Saturn with that and
a Meade research grade 5mm Orthoscopic.  Ultra sharp.  That was a cold one.
We had to get in my car to get warm.

 

I recall using my 15 inch for about half the years there, with my EQ
platform.with paper charts and skyhopping.  I enjoyed it.  Yes, I have
become lazy with that over the years, but I have HAD to do it some and still
can.  I just have that strange case of "time warp" that makes me want to
make the most of the observing time and .yes.I admit it..i love gadgets.
This is my passion and anything connected to it is fair game.  I remember
meeting the crew from what was one time Pocono Mountain Optics..Dave and
Mike..were there one time.  That was the year I bought my Sun and Moon shirt
that looks like something out of the 60's. and my glow in the dark purple on
black constellation shirt that Domitta always loved.  She like purple!

 

We always formed a community each year..the exact location might change and
the logistics might be a little different but it always ended up seeming
like home.  I was always sorry to have to leave.

 

I actually met Melissa Thorner when I was inquiring with the NOVAC group
about going up the Spruce Knob.  That was an internet blessing.  She
responded and found out about MASP and came down from West Virginia.  I
remember her pulling up in her truck with Hawk and yelling AAAAAllllllen!  I
knew it was her.  That started a long tradition of generosity on her
part..you can't be around Melissa and not feel welcome.  It was also
SPEC-Tac-lar that year you were there remember.

 

I remember Don Hale and I caravanning down many times...i do miss him and
wish he was still here.  

 

I met Robert Nielsen there a few years ago, after the venue had changed.and
Mark Clegg also happened to set up nearby...that year we decided that once a
year wasn't enough and the following January Robert started coming to Medoc
and mark and Robert and I stayed in touch better.

 

Yes, Jim Elliot I remember observing together with you many years and
watching Jenna grow up.  It seems like yesterday that you took that pick of
a tiny Jenna next to my Obsession.  We always had a great time and you
always thought of something interesting to see.  

 

Jim Palermo I met you there also and I am glad you are coming to medoc
often.  

 

I met John Raymond there quite a few years ago, and have always enjoyed his
always different take on what to see and his knowledge of the stars.  I
remember him calling me down there not too long ago.when he had that
geosynchronous satellite and it made you feel like the stars were moving but
they weren't.  

 

I met a lot of the RAC folks there over the years.Jim and I were reminiscing
recently about Southern Star  in little Switzerland.  Every may or
thereabouts.  That was always a big event in the spring and the MASP was the
event in the fall.

 

The Boy scouts always had a good hot dog or biscuit or coffee for you, and
that continued at the new site with some new folks for a short time.  Like
many others, I missed that when it stopped.  I made chili quite a few years
and also used to make breakfast in the mronning.  Eggs cooked to
order.bacon....grits..potatoes...coffee.  Even strangers came up to eat with
us...it was good..and there really were no strangers.

 

I met a fellow from New York one year...and low and behold he and his wife
were at NEAF last year...we talked and talked...he always enjoyed the MASP
get together.

 

I think my first acquaintance with quite a few of you CHAOS folks was at
MASP.  Some of you were really kind that year to let me set up near you.  I
was running back and forth between two scopes across the road.  Robert and
Mark and I stayed up a long time one night trying to get the Horsehead in
his Mewlon..it was hard because that scopes configuration and long focal
length makes it harder.  We did give it a good run didn't we Robert?

 

Yes, things did change at the new location and not everything was as good.
But I continued to go because I really enjoyed the people and the observing
too.  Just a couple of years ago the seeing was so good..remember Jupiter
folks...and Melissa making sauerkraut and bratwurst at 300am.  My goodness,
fun!  

 

I actually can keep going on and on.  I had to limit the length of stay..i
used to go the whole week.but after my father was sick I would go and come
home two or three times a week.  And with my mother older now and new job, I
would be more limited this year in how long.  I am sorry that I won't be
able to go.

 

The point is.without my extensive history at the MASP I would not know most
of you.  We wouldn't have as active a group at Medoc as we do.  I have had
some friends come and go, but his group now seems pretty stable and we enjoy
what we do because it's pretty simple really.  I feel fortunate for it and
realize that a lot of this would have never happened in my life if John had
not decided to hold the MASP.  I am going to email him and thank him.

 

Now it looks like the last two or three years the MASP was declining and has
now died.  But I remember MANY many good times..i think I am probably one of
the few that can say they have been to all of them and I choose to remember
and be thankful.  

 

October always meant MASP to me, and regardless of where or what or when it
was fun for me..  

 

Sorry to run on .and some may not find this very interesting but I had to
put it out there as a sort of testament to what meeting good people can do
in ones life.  I wouldn't know so many good people without the MASP
regardless of its place or time.

 

Thank God that some folks want to continue an event like Staunton River and
I look forward to that becoming a tradition.  

 

allen

 

E. Allen Davis

starstorm151 at embarqmail.com

 

"M'Illumino              "I am enlightened

D'Immenso"              by the immensity."

 

   -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti

 

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