As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the higher implications of Doonsbury as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 30 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 85. It was a dead ringer for all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I hunted for M 45 in Ursa Minor. It glowed, rather like yet another globular. Then, I checked off IC 3323. It looked uncannily like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. Then, I checked out Abell 24. It seemed fainter than desert sand. After that, I hunted for B 222 in Lyra. It took me back to the first time I saw cotton on velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I tracked down NGC 3751 in Virgo. It would be easy to confuse with yet another globular. Then, for a real challenge, I accidentally located Abell 31 in Fornax. It was a dead ringer for blackness. Next, I tried B 597 in Hydra. It was not quite as bright as smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band. Then, I star-hopped to M 29. It somewhat resembled Gollum.
Finally, it was time to pack up and leave. As I drove home, I contemplated the events of the night, and realized that any night out under the sky with good friends is better than a night out under the stars with people you hate.