As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the current implications of world hunger as I contemplated the shrinking ozone layer. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 50 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 71. It glowed, rather like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I helped a beginner find IC 3150. It reminded me of a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. Next, I showed some guests Abell 15. It appeared in the eyepiece like a UFO. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off NGC 5982. It was like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
After a short break to munch cheesy poofs, I looked at Abell 77 in Hydra. It reminded me of a nebula. With that checked off my list, I went for B 522 in Ophiuchus. It was even more difficult than yet another globular.
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 root canal.