It was the last year of high school. It was a brisk cool day. My usual routine was go to class. After class take the city bus to downtown Hartford, get off in front of Friendly’s Restaurant. There I ordered my usual– a chicken sandwich with extra mayo and a strawberry fribble. Then I would take the Vine Street Bus down Albany Ave and get off at my stop on the corner of East Street. Five minutes later I would climb to the 3rd floor, turn on the tv, make my way to the kitchen. I would unwrap my sandwich and load it with bread and butter pickles. As I sat to eat my lunch before going to my work study job (Hartford Enterprise Zone), I turned to Channel 3 news and… there it was! A beautiful white ball that took a sharp right turn then back to the earth it fell!
As I sit with my sandwich in my hand, the hunger I felt just 30 seconds before, no longer existed. I thought of Mr. Ronald McNair, the only Black Astronaut on board of the Challenger. I thought of Christa McAuliff, the only teacher aboard, Judith Resnik, the only female Astronaut.I also thought of Smith, Scobee, Onizuka and Jarvis, Then I thought of the loss to their loved ones, the loss to the world. Although I did not know them personally I cried as if I lost someone I knew and loved.
After sobbing, I gathered myself together. On this day I would walk to my job. I no longer felt the cold on my face. I needed to think. Reflect on what had just happened to me, the world. As I walked to work, that’s when I decided that I needed to live for every moment. To go for my dreams of being a pilot. Although I am but a student pilot, I still have dreams of becoming a licensed pilot. To someday fly to whatever destination that I decide upon. It is amazing and some what sad that it takes a tragedy to make us wake up and be thankful.
I used to watch Good Morning America regularly. That morning that’s what I was doing, watching and listening to all of the back story about Christa. About her students, her husband, her excitement about….and POOF!!
At first I thought they had cut away from the LIVE feed for some reason. Then they started to show the faces of everyone sitting on the bleacher-like seats. :-( Christa’s parents included. It was so sad!!!
Seeing it LIVE was just terrible. {I was also watching it LIVE the morning the planes flew into the World Trade Buildings! :-(}
Very true! Makes a change to see someone spell it out like that. :)
That’s 2 clveer by half and 2×2 clever 4 me. Thanks!
Got it! Thanks a lot again for helping me out!
I’m not easily impressed. . . but that’s impressing me! :)
You’re the one with the brains here. I’m watching for your posts.
That’s going to make things a lot easier from here on out.
Touchdown! That’s a really cool way of putting it!