astonished & mesmerized

Ever since I was a little kid, I have been fascinated by the stars and planets. How big are they? How far away are they? Why are they there? Where did they come from? Now I am 36 years old, and I'm still asking the same questions. I never go outside at night without looking up. Sure, all the same stuff is still there, the moon, Mars, all the same contellations, but they are no less fascinating than the night before. I didn't buy my first telescope until I was about 23 years old, and it was a piece of crap, rickety tasco. I didn't know anything about telescopes. All I knew is I wanted a better look at what was up there, and after some tedious positioning, I got that look. I'll never forget the first time I saw the rings around Saturn. Wow, what a wonderful sight. Yeah, it was about the size of a baby pea, but it was still wonderful. I was seeing it with my own eyes. It was far better than any hubble photo I have ever seen, just because it was real. And then there was the moon. Wow.