As I drove up the winding road to another winding road only known to those from my support group, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of Dilbert as I contemplated the crystal-clear skies. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 14 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 86. It shimmered, as if it were that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. With that checked off my list, I observed M 73 in Septans. It reminded me of Alan Rickman. Next, I tracked down M 2. It looked uncannily like the last six objects I'd seen. Then, I showed some guests NGC 2043 in Lynx. It glowed, rather like Smokey the Bear. Next, I nudged my telescope to Abell 36. It shimmered, as if it were diamonds on light grey velvet.
After a short break to drink a slurpie, I helped a beginner find Abell 37. It took me back to the first time I saw Santa Claus. Then, I observed NGC 6017. It was even more difficult than smoke signals from a rampaging Iroquois band.
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 being ravaged by savage wild wombats.