Valentines in the stars
Iris is my valentine. Didn’t get her a fancy box of chocolates this year because we still have fudge in the icebox ... ‘er fridge. Inside a lacy romantic card, I did thank her for putting up with me for more than 50 years, and lately reminding me when it’s time to take pills.
Even if we were younger, I doubt I would have gotten her one of the unusual valentines advertised this year. One of the more interesting suggestions was a rifle or pistol. I can imagine Iris’ reaction if I’d ever done that, but maybe in the current generation that sort of thing is never OK. Nevertheless, until he has been a “good” husband at least 20 years, I think it unwise for any man … to give his wife a gun.
Don’t know if they are still doing it, but an American company has advertised nationwide about a “unique” opportunity to have them name a star after someone you love. If you bought a star, that company would send you a “certificate of proof-naming” along with a map of the heavens showing your personal star. That gimmick must have pulled in a load of customers because national ads ran many years.
For you readers who bought a star, I admire the thoughtful motives behind such a far-out purchase; however, last Sunday I discovered a serious problem. Marilyn vos Savant, (world’s highest IQ), says stars numbering beyond anyone’s ability to count have died and others are dying all the time. She gave a theoretical example of a star with a 5-million-year lifetime that was 10 million light years from earth. Such a star could have gone out 5 million years ago but its beam took so long getting here we still see it and don’t know it’s gone.
I dislike hearing bad tidings, but that could happen to “your star.” Marilyn says astronomical science is “mind boggling” and pointed out the huge Milky Way galaxy is only 100,000 light years away but, “What we see is not the way it is now, but how it was a million years ago.” For folks who have forgotten, the speed of light is 186,283 miles per second. Latest reports say genius-type scientists are working on the theory man can eventually travel faster then the speed of light. That idea is somehow based on Einstein’s theory of relativity.
George Orwell said, “There are some things only intellectuals are crazy enough to believe.” Think how many of us figured man could never exceed the speed of sound … or go to the moon.
Better change the subject before my mind gets so boggled I can’t finish the column, eat supper or get any sleep.
Egypt is again making news because of the people’s dramatic uprising against their ruler of 30 years, Hosni Mubarak. He finally gave in last Saturday and is hiding out. Recall Cleopatra being forced from power during times of the Roman Empire, but she got back the throne using sex. Seems unlikely Mubarak has anything like that going for him.
Getting more serious, in my recent memory, there was at least one fine Egyptian president from 1970 to 1981, Anwar Sadat. He wanted a more democratic government for his country, and courageously worked toward a peaceful relationship with Israel. Sadat was assassinated in a hail of gunfire during a patriotic ceremony. Mubarak was in the reviewing stand with Sadat and used those tragic times to take over.
It was a huge 1987 surprise for me to meet Sadat’s wife and grown daughter at an International press conference in Seoul, Korea. Mrs. Sadat was carrying on her husband’s dream of a peaceful Middle East.
Someplace among the secret piles and files in my den are notes from that day. Perhaps thousands of years from now, archeologists digging in Greenacres may unearth them for posterity.
G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national award-winning Hungry Horse News columnist.