The Tears of St. Lawrence

Following quote courtesy of Space.com:
"Every August, when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower makes its appearance.

It is also the month of "The Tears of St. Lawrence."

Laurentius, a Christian deacon, is said to have been martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out:

"I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."

The saint's death was commemorated on his feast day, Aug. 10. King Phillip II of Spain built his monastery place the "Escorial," on the plan of the holy gridiron. And the abundance of shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence's "fiery tears."

Last night and tonight were the peak of the Perseid Meteor Showers. About 10:30pm tonight, I took Jericho and Paige for a ride in the pickup to a location out on a back country road about 3 miles from our house that was away from the light pollution of the city lights. This would allow us a spectacular view of the Perseid Meteor Shower. We found a spot on this particular road at the top of a hill and parked in the grass off the side of the road and the three of us lay in the bed of my pickup. It was dark, the crickets and katydids were singing, and we admired the spectacular view of the stars and the occasional steak of meteorites blazing across the warm summer sky. We lay there about 45 minutes quietly talking and enjoyed the light show that God provided us. When I asked the kids which they would have rather done, either staying at home watching TV or come out and watching the Meteor showers, they both agreed they would rather watch the meteorites. It's occasions like this that I know that I've been a positive influence on my kids and that we can have fun together and not have to spend a dime.

In closing, Paige and I believe we saw either the International Space Station or the Space Shuttle cross the night sky around 11pm tonight heading from directly overhead traveling from west to east, which was an added bonus for us.