Rick had an interest in astronomy when I first met him. It was an interest he shared with his mom, and one I grew to like also. It was the first connection he and I made. It was also a connection we would revisit several times. We would study star charts and planetary placements and look for them in the night sky, pointing the telescope towards the target, hoping to catch a closer glimpse. We saw the Moons craters and Venus, Jupiter and Saturns rings. We talked about the possibility and likelihood of alien life forms in the universe. (In fact that conversation we kept up until the end really). It was a fun thing we did and I treasure those moments. Eventually though I was too tired from work or wanted to do something else. He would ask me from time to time if we could look at the stars or try to start a conversation about where  Mars was located in the sky tonight, trying to rekindle that shared interest, but I grew too busy or too tired or too lazy. Eventually that bond faded. Not from his lack of enthusiasm, but from my lack of commitment.  I will be forever guilty of not nurturing that interest. To this day I regret that.