Those Moments - Challenger Disaster

Thirty years ago today the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It became one of my "Where were you when?" moments.

I was sitting in the library with my classmates watching the launch on television. We were excited by the prospect of a teacher, and ordinary person (astronauts were extrodinary) being launched into space. The media had been hyping the mission for weeks. We all watched in anticipation. Up it went and then it was gone.

I don't remember who I was sitting with that day. I don't remember what channel we were watching (this was before cable tv and internet). I do remember the on air reports hesitating to announce that the shuttle was gone and that those seven people were dead.

Almost 18 months later, on a class trip to Washington DC, we visited Arlington National Cemetery and saw the memorial to those men and women.

In 2008, I visited Arlington again and the Challenger memorial had been joined by another, honoring the astronauts of the Columbia disaster in 2003. 

Two similar events, (Challenger exploded shortly after take off. Columbia shortly before landing) seventeen years apart that really bookend the shuttle program in the United States. Thirty years ago the prosepct of going into space was exciting and captured the interest of people. Today, it probably never crosses my students' minds.

The Challenger disaster keeps coming back into my life. It' one of "those moments." Last summer while visiting the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama I found a wall of mission patches and pins for sale. I love label pins and I wanted one, but only one. I wanted the pin from that day in 1986. It took some searching, but I found it. 

Rest in peace Challenger Crew. You are not forgotten.

And they're back!

The gobblers are back in the neighborhood. I'm pretty sure it's part of the same flock of juveniles who were hanging around last fall.

Race Day

This morning my friend Tina and I braved the wet, participating in the 17th Annual Cascade Half Marathon events. No...we don't run, and we don't do 13.1 miles. We take advantage of the short 2 mile walk, as we have for the last several years. We started with the 10K in 2011 and that was not fun.  I missed 2012 due to a broken foot. From there we've done the two miles. Get it done in 30 minues, eat some soup and home to do whatever for the rest of the day. It's a good January tradition.

Ice

School was cancelled today due to ice. I took the opportunity to take a few photos from the back deck.

A New Year

I say it every year, but I'm not sure where 2015 disappered to. I know it happened. I know I was busy and occupied, enteretained and opinioned. I also know there were great highs and great lows.

We ended the year with family night at the movies. Three generations lined up in a row to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I have to say, I was a bit nervous about how Disney would handle the film, but I really enjoyed it.

So, now 2016 has begun. Today dawned bright and cold. A visit with family friends and a snuggle with their dogs and kittens. Followed by lunch with my parents.

Happy New Year. May 2016 be awesome.