There I am, in the eighth grade, in 1958, grinding a mirror for my six inch, home made telescope.  I spent three months in our basement walking around that barrel.  Most of the time I listened to the radio.  Unchained Melody played often.
 
 
  

 
There it is.  The finished product.  And it worked!  Amazing.  I'm still proud of it and even became more popular with my friends, especially after the sun went down.
 
 
 
  

My interest in astronomy is why I've always enjoyed reading good science fiction.  I'm working on writing some of my own, too.