NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY -- NRAO

VERY LARGE ARRAY -- VLA

Plains of San Agustin, New Mexico, USA

VERY RARE, CLASSIC DESIGN / LOGO

PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM THE VISITOR CENTER GIFT SHOP ONSITE, May 1996

Size XL  50/50 Cotton/Poly

Single Stitch (Shoulders, Sleeves, Cuffs, Hemline, Front neckline)

Double Stitch (Back collar)

22 1/2" across (pit to pit) X 27 1/2" long/tall (mid-shoulder to bottom of the hemline)

THE STORY OF THIS SHIRT:

As an Astronomer, dedicated to both observing the wonders of the Universe as an amateur, as well as sharing those views with others, along with sharing the Science of Astronomy as a Public Outreach Educator, I have always had a healthy fascination (Ok, FIXATION!) for all things and places Astronomy-related since I was a student.  As a result, as my wife and I have crisscrossed this country countless times on any number of Astronomically-directed adventures (and a few misadventures!), the list of sites and observatories that we have visited has grown impressively long, and yet our competing list of places still to visit, keeps growing longer.  I guess that's called LIVING!  In earlier years, much of our travel was centered around our fund-raising efforts, hauling our traveling "Museum Shop" to numerous gatherings and conferences, while later trips were more focused on our outreach work.

From our home-base in the Philadelphia (PA) area, the drive never used to bother me (My wife, YES, but not me!) as we prepared for our annual trip(s) out west for the TEXAS STAR PARTY (Fort Davis, TX) and/or the RIVERSIDE TELESCOPE MAKERS CONFERENCE (Big Bear, CA), but it was always more "relaxing" when both events fell close enough on the calendar to work into the same trip, which wasn't often enough, but we attended both events over 20+ times, regardless of whether we had to drive home in between or not.  May of 1996 was one of those GOOD years, when TSP ended on a Sunday, and set-up for RTMC began on the following Thursday.  We had plans to stop and visit with friends in Tucson.  A close TSP-friend, "Other Bob", also heading to RTMC, made driving plans for a detour so that he could visit THE VERY LARGE ARRAY Radio Telescope in central New Mexico.  As we parted ways as we drove off of the Prude Ranch in Texas, I yelled to him, "See you next weekend!  Grab me a cool shirt if you see one that you think I'd like!!!"

It was around lunchtime of the following Thursday, and I was unloading and sorting heavy boxes from our van as we began setting up again, now in California, when I felt something soft, whack me in the back of my head.  I whipped around to see "Other Bob" grinning at me as he called out, "AIRMAIL!  INCOMING!"  I just glared at him until I noticed the plastic bag on the ground behind where I had been standing.  I reached down, opened it, and out tumbled this shirt.  HE COULDN'T HAVE MADE A MORE PERFECT SELECTION!  And, his aim was pretty good, too!!!  I'm sure I got even with him at some point.  Most folks knew that if anyone ever saw both Bob's together, we were either arguing about some practical joke that one of us had pulled on the other, or we were actively plotting together against someone else, but he was a great guy and we remained good "road friends" until we suddenly lost him.  I still miss him.  This shirt has held a special place in my collection, so was rarely worn but always appreciated.  It took about 6 or 7 more years for my wife and I to finally make it out to the VLA for ourselves.  By then, we knew some of the folks who worked out there, one of whom was "filling in" behind the Gift Shop counter on the day that we just happened to visit, making for an even more surprising and wonderful visit, including an "insider's tour" once he could step away from the counter, but NOT before costing us a small fortune in souvenirs.  Yes, I added several more shirts to my collection, which I will NOT be parting with, since I continue to wear the hell out of them!!!  R.I.P. "Other Bob", and I hope some of your devious and playful energy will be passed forward, along with this shirt, to the next wearer...it has served me (and your memory) well!

I am offering this classic, vintage, and VERY RARE shirt for $99.95, which includes free shipping to anywhere in the U.S.  You can combine this with other items that I am selling to receive a refund for each additional item, after the first, once shipped.  This refund reflects my savings in postage fees by combining your orders, and is based on the total mailing weight of the items.  International buyers are eligible for the multi-item discount (WHEN YOU USE THE SHOPPING CART FEATURE AND PAY FOR ALL OF YOUR ITEMS IN A SINGLE PAYMENT!) and receive free shipping to ebay's Global Shipping Program Center, but are responsible for all additional fees for postage, customs, tariffs, and/or other import charges.  Any questions?  Contact me.