MEMOIR

Growing Up In The Mountains Probably Saved My Life

How the power of Nature and friendship helped me heal my mother wound

Photo of the Shane Telescope on Mt Hamilton, April 2009 — Courtesy of Michael on Wikimedia Commons

I was eight years old when I moved to Mt. Hamilton, a 4,265-foot peak above East San Jose, CA.

Surrounded by telescopes and a 360-degree view, I had everything I needed for an idyllic childhood. I lived there with my dad after my birth mother proved unable to care for me.

We lived in the valley below Lick Observatory’s 36-inch telescope, where we sold lemonade, brownies, and hot cocoa to tourists.

My dad worked as a telescope technician at the 120-inch Shane Telescope down the road.

He’d bring me regularly to visit the telescope. I remember riding on an elevator to the platform near the dome that circumnavigated the telescope inside the building. Then, we’d move on the platform around the telescope. It was thrilling and a little scary. Being a curious kid, I imagine I grew more comfortable in time.

When we had clear night skies, and no one else was using the telescope, I got to look at stars, planets, and the moon through the lens.

We collected glossy 8 x 10s of the moon, Jupiter, and Mars on our wall from the tourist gift shop. I love that I had free…