DIANA FINLAY HENDRICKS

His Life in Words

Mark Hendricks
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Maybe the Greatest Day Ever

7/6/2009

 
PictureThe Pier At Hanalei Bay, North Shore, Kaua'i.
by Mark Hendricks
The semester before our 2009 trip to Kaua’i, Diana took a college astronomy course from Don Olson, a truly world-renowned astronomer on the Texas State faculty. Hawai’i is considered the most remote population center on the planet, meaning that – for a relatively large population – it is further away from a major land mass than any other. This remoteness makes it ideal for stargazing, and, in fact, the Big Island is home to one of the world’s most significant observatories.
            So, it seemed only natural that Diana would ask Don if there would be anything interesting in the sky for us to see when we were there in late May. And it was only natural that Don would be helpful and very happy to inform us that we would be there at the only time of year – late May – when the Southern Cross would be visible from the Hawaiian Islands. That particular constellation is usually only visible in the Southern Hemisphere, but Don assured us that there is a narrow window where it can be seen in the southern Hawaiian sky in late May. All you have to do is look in the southern sky after 9 p.m. or so and it should be there, slightly above the horizon. That would be easy for us as we were staying on the southern shore of Kaua’i. A simple look straight out at the ocean from the beach should give us a great view of the Cross.
            So we were disappointed that the first three nights, the southern sky was shrouded with cloud cover. The rest of the sky was perfectly clear and the stars were beautiful, but the southern exposure was non-existent. It would have been so easy for us to see it, too, because our balcony lanai faced directly south. It should have provided a perfect view for “Cross-gazing.” On the third night, though, I had about given up.


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    About Mark

    The child of a Marine Corps officer, Mark grew up on the move. A barefoot childhood on the beaches of Oahu, coming of age in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mark made his way through five universities before settling in as a Texas State University Bobcat.  He was a news, crime and sports reporter as well as news editor for the Laredo News, and served time at the San Marcos Daily Record. After a decade or so in the newspaper business, he went into higher education communications, and has spent almost a quarter-century back at Texas State, where he is now the Director of the University News Service.
    When people as me what my husband does, I like to say that, "When news breaks, he fixes it." 
    He is truly the great love of my life - and without compare, the smartest and funniest person I know; an incredible father/stepfather, husband and son; a crisis management expert;  and a very  talented writer.
    He never ceases to surprise me with his knowledge of everything from sports trivia, and literature, to  showtune lyrics and movie quotes, as well as a host of other Jeopardy-quality topics.
    On July 9, 2003, we had our first date. The following January, he proposed to me at what has been determined to be one of the most romantic sites in Flatonia, Texas; we had a fabulous wedding amid family and friends on April 17, 2004;  and we truly have have been living happily ever after ever since. 

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  • easy as falling....
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    • Music Makers
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    • Odds and Ends
    • more than words
    • Texas Capitol
    • Wild Things
    • client feedback
    • services
  • in touch
  • Candles
  • mark's stories
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