While engineers and technicians work furiously at pad 39A, and while the STS-119 crew resumes training for their upcoming mission, tourists continue to inundate this area. The Best Western is full every night. Some are on spring break. Some are here with sports teams. As I sat after my bike ride, a party of young men descended on the beach. I noted that they looked like PLU types. That they were. A NCAA division 3 baseball tournament was held here this week. The young men were the baseball team from Gettysburg College, the Lutheran School there in Pennsylvania.
We continue to watch for NASA updates each morning. To keep us from watching other reports, Visa bills, car rental fees, hotel charges, etc., we try to concentrate on the gifts of our environs. After my run in with manatees yesterday, Barb, Phil, Virginia, Shauna, and Jessica (Virginia’s relatives from Moses Lake) encouraged me to drive them out to the pond.
I was relieved that I was able to repeat the trip in the car. However, the manatees were not lying by the bank as they were yesterday. Barb, not wanting to give up, sought the aid of a neighbor. Lewis and his wife jumped to our aid. “They are over in the corner. See them there.” The pig-like snouts were visible. “I wish you would have been here earlier. They were very active and there was a pod of dolphins here too.”
Lewis, a few years younger than us, grew up in Key Largo. An engineer by trade, he moved to Cocoa Beach to subcontract for NASA. “Don’t miss the launch,” he related. “There is nothing like it. Your first percussion is the exploding hold down bolts. After that, the boosters kick in. Noise and waves of power overcome you. Powerful.”
Thanks, Lewis. Just one more expert letting us know we must ride this out. Barb and I, carrying out our own personal domestic economic stimulus project, with no hesitation.
We continue to watch for NASA updates each morning. To keep us from watching other reports, Visa bills, car rental fees, hotel charges, etc., we try to concentrate on the gifts of our environs. After my run in with manatees yesterday, Barb, Phil, Virginia, Shauna, and Jessica (Virginia’s relatives from Moses Lake) encouraged me to drive them out to the pond.
I was relieved that I was able to repeat the trip in the car. However, the manatees were not lying by the bank as they were yesterday. Barb, not wanting to give up, sought the aid of a neighbor. Lewis and his wife jumped to our aid. “They are over in the corner. See them there.” The pig-like snouts were visible. “I wish you would have been here earlier. They were very active and there was a pod of dolphins here too.”
Lewis, a few years younger than us, grew up in Key Largo. An engineer by trade, he moved to Cocoa Beach to subcontract for NASA. “Don’t miss the launch,” he related. “There is nothing like it. Your first percussion is the exploding hold down bolts. After that, the boosters kick in. Noise and waves of power overcome you. Powerful.”
Thanks, Lewis. Just one more expert letting us know we must ride this out. Barb and I, carrying out our own personal domestic economic stimulus project, with no hesitation.
Pictures: Mother manatee and her young. Phil, Virginia, Shauna and Jessica.
2 comments:
That is a flattering picture of a manatee--one of the most ugly of God's creations!
Fantastic, KOMO online says a launch is planned for later today (Sunday evening). I'm so excited for you & everyone else involved.
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