While I lived in Alaska there were a few things that were "home" to me.
Things that no matter what, they reminded me of living here.
The constellation Orion is one of them.
When I was about 17 years old I was parked with Kirk, here.
In Cogshall Park. As we were leaving the park, he stopped his truck and looked up at the sky. He pointed and said "Do you see those 3 stars in a row?" And I looked and I said.."yeah, what's that?" He said "That's Orioin and that's how you find him…you look for the 3 stars in a row, that is his belt." And I was mesmerized by it. I had never known about Orion. I had never even heard about it.
At the time, it was something that reminded me of Kirk. I would always look for Orion and when I would find him, it would make me feel closer to Kirk. Around the same time, this song came out.
Orion and this song became synonomous with Kirk.
But then when I moved….it started to remind me of more than just Kirk. First and foremost it always makes me think of Kirk but as time went on, it started to remind me of my crazy nights in Cogshall….being young….warm September nights….and home. Up until I moved back here, it was an untouchable touchstone for me. I would look for him when I was lonely…when I was homesick…when I missed my friends….when I missed Kirk. Just seeing it would make me feel better…..
"at least we're underneath the same big sky…."
This morning, I stepped outside to smoke.
It was still dark and I look up at the sky.
And the very first thing I see….those 3 stars in a row.
There he is, I think…..and I smile.
I am home.
Anything But Gray 
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