Countdown by Ray Shay

 

 
I don't know about your place, but our home seems to be surrounded by more launch pads than Cape Canaveral in the early seventies.  Theresa and I peer out through the extra thick, blast proof windows of Mission Control while we constantly check the status of each rocket as it prepares to launch.

If I listen carefully, I can hear a man's deep voice resonate over the public address system as he slowly counts down, "T minus ten seconds and counting. 10, 9, 8,... I never understoodthe T-minus part.  I clicked on the link indicated above and found out NASA also uses an E-minus.  

Pretty cool stuff.

If NASA could do it all over again, I think they would have upgraded to the sound of a soft spoken, articulate woman.  Hearing her voice as the powerful engines shake and start their thunderous rumble the astronauts would be more at ease because they would never have to wonder,  "what did we forget to pack."  If the unfathomable happened and the rocket did explode, at least the last words they heard would not be from someone who could have been the, "Marlboro Man."

 

Mission Control

The rockets preparing to launch at our home are not much different than rockets we all anxiously awaited for as children.  I can still recall counting down the minutes until I turned thirteen years old.  I could not wait for my new job title of, "teenager." That specific day, like so many other days or events seemed to take forever to arrive.

The current launch schedule at our home includes the, "USS - I Want My Driver's Permit" on Launchpad #1.  On #2 we have the "USS - When Will My Paintball Gun Arrive?"  And on #3 we are in the process of an emergency rocket change.  "The USS - I Deserve a Sleep Over" is being rolled away from the tower due to an administrative override.

I better dim the blast shields because the "USS - You Are Grounded" is being fueled with

Launchpad #1

liquid oxygen at multiple fill points and will be launched momentarily.  It's amazing how fast Mission Control can change everyone's launch schedule. Our young astronauts don't seem to realize it is so much harder on all of us to scrub a mission versus letting their fueled rockets fly.  I guess like anyone in charge, being a parent can be lonely.

I find it humorous children cannot wait to grow up while as parents we have a different perspective.  We love progress, improvement and having fun, but I think we tend to notice the splashdowns more than the launches.

Something about seeing those three bright colored parachutes slowly floating down to the deep blue ocean as they hold our children's space capsules safely in their grasps.  After a big splash of salty ocean water, their scorched black re-entry capsule door opens and we can see them smiling.

After they are rescued from the capsule they want to skip decontamination, hugs or anything of the sort.   They rightfully want to move on to the next rocket, the next adventure.  A blessing we all enjoy by being part of this amazing country where opportunity and democracy brings a bright spark to our children's lives. A spark often more muted in poorer and non democratic countries.

Coming Home

I am quick to recognize when our children approach splashdown. In the early morning hours a few days ago, our youngest son Ryan climbed out of his bed and into ours. As I rubbed his messed up hair and welcomed in, I knew his current magical mission of being a little boy is almost over. I wish I could extend this particular mission, but like all missions I know it has to come to an end.

Seeing the scorched and battered rescue capsule reminds all of us of the value of each second we are on this beautiful earth. Despite the worries, effort and challenges we all face, it is a blessing.  One day all of our launch pads will undoubtedly go dark.

When that happens, I hope we can throw all our papers into the air like they did in the Apollo Missions Control Center and yell, "hallelujah!"  Until then, our current challenge is how fast can we get the"USS - You are grounded" into the water?  After all, we have a very long line of amazing rockets lined up all the way from development to the launch pads.

Let's get going people, there is so much more work to be done! 

Honor Our Veterans

Have a great Veterans Day. It is because of our war veterans and their families countless sacrifices over hundreds of years we are able to look up at the evening sky with a sense of wonder and enjoy  the freedom to dream of a better tomorrow.

Thank you,

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