I’m Paul J. Willett, a 50-something father and husband who dabbles at being a space cadet, NASA Social junkie, photographer, pilot, writer, amateur astronomer, runner, and jack-of-all-trades-creative-person. (The “J” is because I am not an ex-hockey player from Canada who had an extensive minor league career with the Bakersfield Condors, although I do have one of the bobble-head dolls of that “other” Paul Willett.)
The blog’s title, “We Love The Stars Too Fondly”, is a variant of a quote commonly attributed to Galileo, “I’ve loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” I remember first hearing it as “For we love the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night” when I was a member of the Orange County Astronomers while in college in the late 1970′s, and it’s always been a quote close to my heart.
The blog’s original tagline, “Shared thoughts & images while questing for what we all want to be as we grow older,” is what I wanted this blog to grow into when I started it in 2013. It was meant to recognize that we’re all looking for something, we all want tomorrow to be better than today, and it needs to happen not as we grow “up”, but as we grow “older”. As the T-shirt says, “Growing Older Is Mandatory, Growing Up Is Optional.”
The current header image was taken in the Arizona desert on March 12, 2013 at 19:39, a little over an hour after sunset, about a hundred miles west of Phoenix. The one-day old moon was 2% illuminated and 0:25 away from setting. To the moon’s left you can see Comet Pan-STARRS at its most visible.
The current background image was taken March 18, 2013 at Camarillo Airport as the Commemorative Air Force’s B-29 “Fifi” was arriving with an escort of five vintage WW2 fighter aircraft.
The blog’s current tagline reflects better my attitude toward getting older, what society and its members expect of us, and the need to maintain a sense of humor. They say you can’t take with you, but if I can’t take it with me I’m not going to go!
Paul in a happy, happy place
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 
Are you the same Paul J Willett who wrote the song “Ronald Reagan-Carl Sagan-San Diegan-Pagan Blues”?
LikeLike
Guilty as charged!
LikeLike
That’s awesome! I’m a huge fan. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it since Filk Radio went down. Do you have an mp3 for sale anywhere?
LikeLike
Not that I’m aware of – I think it was on one of the old Off-Centaur tapes (from Balticon? maybe? it was a long time ago) which would have been where Eric was getting it.
LikeLike
Hey there! So I tagged you in a writing challenge…hope you consider participating. It was the first one I’ve done and it was very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, for tomorrow if I can make the time
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think it’s on a time limit. I took a couple of days before doing mine…. and only if you want to. No worries if not. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paul, my name is Ryan Unruh. I am the Creative Director at KJO Media, a video production company in Kansas City. I am interested in using one of your photos in a short video I am making about Kansas City barbecue. Please, email me to discuss. ryan@kjomedia.com
LikeLike
I think I have a manually-digitized-from-live-recording version of “Ronald Reagan-Carl-Sagan-etc” from a filksing from the late 80’s, if you think it would be appropriate to post here. It was Margaret(?)… oh dang, can’t remember her last name, once known as “the first lady of filk”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Margaret Middleton, I would guess. Post away, I’m always surprised people still sing it!
LikeLike
Hi Paul, I was wondering if I might be able to use one of your images for a webseries we have made in New Zealand. would be great if you could email me at izzy@kevinandco.co.nz, Thanks!
LikeLike
Paul, thanks for the well written articles and posts. My grandfather David Price passed away recently, and I am putting together some thoughts on his life and character, of which aviation played a huge role in. I have flown with him several times, but unfortunately don’t know any of his flying friends or colleagues other than the late Bob Hoover. Do you by chance know anyone I could speak with? I’d love to hear some stories on grandpa. Thanks! – Kyle Stanich; kstanich25@gmail.com
LikeLike