Astronomy has been my hobby for over 50 years.  I especially enjoy observing variable stars, and have been a member of the AAVSO since 1975.

I grew up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.  Some neighborhood friends and I first got interested in astronomy during the late 1950's, right before the time of Sputnik.  We would call each other up and ask, "Do you want to go astronomying tonight?"  That's why I have always thought of "astronomy" as a verb rather than as a noun.  It's something you do, not just something you read about.

More and more kids in the neighborhood became interested, and we started a club.  At one point I think there were almost 30 of us.  Richard R. Fink, a member of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society generously offered to be our teacher.  In December of 1958, he gave us a book with this inscription:

"Use this book to your advantage.  The book itself can be destroyed but not the knowledge you can gain from it.  Go out and do observing.  What you observe is not too important; what you come to understand about the Universe and Man from your observing, is important.  Best wishes, good luck, and good seeing." 

Many years later I passed the same advice on to my own high school astronomy students.