This was taken in 1971. I have always had a strong interest
in astronomy and decided to try to make a telescope when
I was in high school. I ordered a 6" reflector mirror kit
from Edmund Scientific Company, and spent many hours walking
around this barrel in my dad's workshop grinding the glass
which became the mirror for the telescope.

I actually finished it and it worked very well.
Unfortunately our house burned about a year later,
and it has been inoperable since then.
I hope to re-silver the mirror some day and use it again.
I was able to spend many hours with the telescope before it
was damaged. I once thought that I would like to be an
astronomer, but when I found out that you had to be really
good at physics and math, I gave up that idea.

The enlarger that I learned to print on
is behind me in the corner.