I so admire Gaby Giffords.

I grew up partially in Tucson. Went to high school there. Graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1965. I was in Tucson and at a nearby hotel for a high school reunion less than a week before Gabrielle Giffords was shot.

I've been back many times. To visit family, friends, attend high school reunions. I've even attended the adult astronomy camp at the University of Arizona run by the amazing Don McCarthy. My Son The Astronomer attended that camp three times, once as a beginner, twice as an advanced camper. It's a phenomenal experience. But it won't last a lot longer. When I attended the adult camp about a decade ago, I asked Don, who is my age, who will take it over when he retires. He said, probably no one. He can't imagine doing that camp as a viable thing for a younger astronomer, and is very sensitive to the career aspects of that kind of thing.

Honestly, I do hope someone else comes along who says, Not a problem, I'll do the astronomy camp and that it goes on for a very long time.

But until then, if you think you'd be interested, sign up as soon as possible.

My Jewish DNA registered and recognized the sound, as it was meant to be heard. A shofar, a rams horn, signalling, alerting, like a clarion call, sound traveling far and wide.
It struck me that hearing it inside a sanctuary wasn't how it was meant to be heard.

Great article. Thanks for sharing it.