I’ve got this great gig as a human for awhile. It’s been really fun so far, and I think I’ll stick with it for a few more years at least. Nakedness is intoxicating, and so are grapefruits with sugar in the morning. I do miss etherial living, but backflips and handstands are not a bad trade. I know Earth is not my final destination, but it has taught me a lot so far, and I hope I can give its inhabitants some good tools to work with before I depart.

Life in the world of Larkin is sunny, fun, inspiring. I choose the waltz, the smile, the hug. Positive proactive living… life is measured not in minutes, days, weeks, but in choices. The time between choices is nothing, but the act of choosing is everything. Each choice is instantaneous and yet eternal, so choose to enjoy each one!

The physical reach for a hold while poised in perfect balance on three others, none strong enough on their own, but all together supporting me and the stretch beyond anything I’ve touched before towards what I know to be: this is the metaphor of my life.

I fall asleep to the sound of running water and wake to find myself in a new place. Equipped with only my smile I make my way along the path of life stopping to move a log out of the way so others can ass more easily or water a flower so it may beautify the journey of those who come behind me.

So much of life’s beauty comes from balancing a difficult life, and turning it into a well crafted artistic accomplishment full of smooth curves, hidden pockets, colorful frills, and bells, lots of bells.

My home is Boulder Colorado. And everything in my life adds to the energy of my existance. As I align a difficult optical setup, or watch a satellite I’ve worked hard on do something amazing, my mind rejoices. When working out a difficult rescue, or training in a new skillset my sense of world worth smiles with pride. When I nail a line on my teles or rock a difficult jump into deep powder my body uivers with enjoyment. A backflip, particularly nice rapid, ultimate frisbee layout, summiting a tough mountain, stepping off the plane in a new continent: each of these fills me with wonder at being live.

Quiet time, woodworking, taking an artful picture, planting something beautiful, watching clouds float solemly by, listening to a meadowlark sing to the world, tuning a guitar, making cheesecake, putting on a wet shirt on a hot day, closing my eyes, watching a sunrise, waking up seconds before my alarm goes off, taking my shoes and socks off, kisses in the rain, picknics, reading outloud, singing badly, braiding hair, rootbeer floats, washing cold hands in warm water, waving at strangers, sitting in the sand, getting into bed wet after a shower with new flannel sheets, dancing in sunglasses, giving massages: these are the things that balance out the intensity of my life.

They are most precious, and most necessary. No matter how busy my life, making time for such little wonders makes it feel so much slower and more relaxed.

I’m a colorblind optical engineer who makes satellites at Ball Aerosapce. My primary project and love of my day job is JWST the replacement for the Hubble. It is the most incredible telescope ever to go in space, and is going to rock the world!

I’m also a volunteer technical rescuer for Boulder Emergency Squad, the personnel director, a swiftware rescue instructor, and on the Board of Directors. We specialize in dive rescue, swiftwater rescue, car extrication, search and rescue, ropes, and many other support services.

I spend about equal time in both jobs, which balance each other in the most amazing of ways. My engineering job is so mentally stimulating! I really feel I’m helping with something incredible for the world as a whole; while rescuing gives me adrenaline, excitement, cool training, a great family of wonderful people, and the knowledge that we are there to help them, when literally, the blood meets the road.

check out www.jwst.nasa.gov or www.boulderrescue.com