Procrastinating - Space Shuttle Challenger
Today is Tuesday, January 28th. As usual I have spent all day Monday and Tuesday morning, procrastinating. Procrastinating writing this column, knowing full well that I have a deadline on Tuesday afternoon. Also as usual I decided to watch, “The Price is Right” while contemplating what unimportant subject I would write about this week. With ten minutes left until turn off the television and go to work CBS Special Report appeared on the television screen. My first thought was of terrorists. That maybe somewhere in the world, terrorists had committed another horrible in- humane act involving innocent people. Then while watching the saddened and shocked face of Dan Rather, I heard him say that the space shuttle Challenger had exploded one minute and twelve seconds into its flight. I had seen and heard a few accounts of Challenger, but I paid little attention to it. Space shuttles seem to have become what most things become in our lives, a “So-what another space shuttle.” A completely taken for granted situation. I certainly did not bother to watch it on live TV, after all the first couple of space launches were new and exciting, but what is the thrill of watching the same thing over and over again. As I watched the videotape of the liftoff and then the horrible explosion, my taken for granted attitude turned into stark reality of how fragile anything human is. As I finally realized what had happened, I cried.
I cried for the seven people who lost their lives in that horrible fiery split second, but mostly I cried for their families. I cry for the wives who have lost their husbands and the husbands who have lost their wives. I cry for the children who have lost one of their parents, but my heart goes out to the parents of the people who were lost in that split second. To the Moms and Dads of the astronauts and of Christa McAuliffe, the school teacher who was on-board. They have experienced the joys and heartaches of raising these talented human beings. As a mother I think I can realize the pride and fear they felt as they watched the space shuttle lift off. Then to watch this thrill turn into an unbelievable horror in a matter of one minute and twelve seconds, is something that most of us have never experienced. As I studied the faces of Christa McAuliffe’s parents as they watched the liftoff, their pride was very obvious. Also very obvious, as her mother wiped the tears from her eyes, was a hidden fear that is inside of every mother’s being… the fear of the unknown. Her fear of the unknown became a reality as she watched so helplessly.
My heart and my prayers go out to the families of the seven people who lost their lives on Tuesday morning. If there is one thing that can be learned from such a tragedy like this or any other tragedy that touches our lives it has to be this. .. Not anything or anybody should be taken for granted… life and destiny are very fragile things.
