MarieTharpRocks

I think we can all agree that there is a lot of "weirdness" that gets attributed to celestial phenomena. Not too long ago people used to think that comets were harbingers of godly doom. ( even in the freaking 90's with those Nike shoe wearing Heaven's Gate peeps). There is a definite crossover between superstition, religion, and pyschology. Meaning, we have this superstition of the big bad full moon. We then, have people that do ritualistic things during a full moon, We then, have psychologists that try to help all these people. The gravitational pull of the moon does effect our tides. This much we know as fact. Further than that? Nothing has been proven empirically that the moon effects our brain chemistry. Because that's what our brains are. Chemical machines. For something to "mess with them" , it would have to be something directly attributable to our neurological chemistry. Drugs do this, genetics do this, as can certain environmental factors. But thus far, we haven't been able to equate the slight gravitational pull of the moon, into real chemical fluctuations in our minds. We know gravity can affect our bodies , but it has to be of a certain force for it to do so. The full moon wives tale , is a bit of self-fulfilling prophecy and a bunch of other possible sociological, spiritualistic, and psychological scenarios that cause us to make mountains out of nothing.

I've almost done the same exact thing! ( minus the truck driving) ....I'm 38 as well , got my undergrad at 21 in computer science and just two years ago I decided to go back to uni for Geology. ( I got burnt out as an IT admin) I've always loved rocks ( sounds very weird saying that out loud) and the entire geologic science area ( learning about continental drift, sediment layers, periods of geologic history , extinction events, etc). My conundrum at the moment is a specific field surrounding Geology. I'm torn between hydrology, mineralogy, and geophysics. I found that my second fave thing (next to rocks:) , was finally understanding basic physics. I aced my class, and even had my prof ask me to switch my major to physics. While I would LOVE to spend some time messing about with a mass spectrometer, I also know I left my career in IT, because it's always been my dream to study rocks. Which is why I'm leaning towards mineralogy. Hydrology is a distant third simply because I'm fascinated also by desalination. ( and salt ...another mineral). So what I would say in my very non-expert opinion , is find a field encompassing Geology you find you love ONCE you start your studies. Because...we never know what we may end up excelling in until we learn the basics. I had no idea I would love physics as much as I do. I even find myself in my "off time" researching more on photons. ( don't ask me why but photons rock my world ....that particle is cool as FUCK). Even if your decide , "hey I actually really like seeing the country driving" , it's worth going back to school to have a better understanding in particular fields of science. It not only expands your mind , its also real philosophical journey unto itself. Good luck! And feel free to share your fave thing in Geology