Valerie Varnuska, a nature lover based near Westbury, NY, thoroughly enjoys astronomy. While appreciating the stars, she often reflects on the meaning of time relative to the place of humans in the cosmos. For example, many stars exist billions of light years from Earth. It takes one year for light to travel one light year, meaning much of the light that people see in the night sky is very ancient. Valerie Varnuska reflects on the fact that stargazing involves taking in light from a celestial body that expired millions of years ago. The effect is like peering back in time, far before humankind existed.

Complementing her interest in astronomy, Valerie Varnuska enjoys studying locomotive history. She finds beauty in the powerful engines and is saddened when she hears of old trains around the world being sold for scrap metal.