Livin' the Dream: Lunches and launches

Just prior to Easter my sister Judy and brother-in-law Bob drove down from South Carolina for a visit. Staying in one of the camp's rental units; it was great to see them and get caught up as we'd not seen them in more than a year. It was however a little alarming to see them so fit and agile. I think they've found the 'fountain of youth' but they claim it's exercise and diet.

In attempt to throw them off their game we cooked up some Royal Reds deep ocean shrimp and tenderloin steak. I couldn't believe it but the next day they still looked the same. Go figure.

As Easter arrived we faced yet another holiday on the road. Must be something primal about gathering family around the holidays. We somehow seem to find to way to work it out and this Easter was no exception. Actually it worked out pretty well as my brother-in-law Bob suggested we attend the last night launch of the Space Shuttle STS-131 at the Kennedy Space Center and since it was the day after Easter, having dinner beforehand with us seemed like a good idea. Also invited was Bob's brother Bill ... so the space shuttle things was something the boys could do after Easter dinner.

The girls, Bill's Susie, my sister Judy and Sharon would leave after dinner and head south to Bill and Susie's place near Englewood Florida, just south of Sarasota.

Anyway we had a nice ham dinner with baked beans and potato salad and plenty of beer and wine to slosh is all down. A good time was had by all.

But now the time had come for the 'boys' to head out to the Space Center to see the launch scheduled for 6:21am Monday morning. The catch was that eating and drinking all day the guys now had to find a way to get a little rest and leave for the Space Center around 10:00pm Easter evening. Not spring chickens are we so we each looked for ways to relax a little before leaving. 9:00pm rolled around and no one looked anymore rested than the other, but guys wouldn't admit it anyway, so we packed our stuff in my car and headed off on the one hour journey to watch the blastoff. Arriving early we still had to wait in line just to get through security. Pretty much like a TSA search at the airport; even asking for small pocket knives. I guess they figure someone could hurl one of those little 2 inch daggers 6 miles and somehow damage the shuttle. Ya can't be too cautious I say. I figured for the $60 ticket price we'd get waved in, but not the case.

We managed to clear the security hurdles and were then led to a line that was gathering for admission to the busses that would take us to the causeway where we would view the launch. Waiting there about 30 minutes someone with a clipboard (note that only important people here have clipboards) led us further into the complex; snaking our way around a maze of "people dividers" to what appeared to be a spot almost at the front of the line. Our little minds danced with pleasure thinking that we were in front and would have the best opportunity to get the best place to see the big event. As the line gathered behind us, it became obvious that was a pretty big deal to even be here. Bob had thoughtfully reserved tickets for us far in advance and there were but a limited number of people they allowed on the causeway and ...we were in front of most of them!

Looking at our watches we soon discovered that it was only midnight and still had over 6 hours before launch (assuming the weather or some mechanical thing didn't delay it). Others around us were figuring this out as well and before long folding chairs were out, sleeping bags unrolled and the wait began. Bob and Bill brought their $9.00 chairs from WalMart and I brought that nifty little three legged stool I paid $69 from B&H Photo. Boy were they ever fooled. They had put up with comfortable chairs with backs, whereas they missed having a special stool that if sat on more than 10 minutes you would either fall off of it or your voice would escalate about three octaves. Sorry they missed the experience.

Do you remember how the 'wave' goes when at a ball game? You know ... one group stands up then the group next to them does the same and before long this 'wave' sweeps around the stadium getting everyone to stand. Well while standing/laying in line waiting to board a bus in the middle of the night the same thing can happen. As it turns out, some guy in the very front of our line stands up and stretches. So the guys behind him think he's getting ready to get on the bus and begin to do the same. Before you know it several thousand perfectly comfortable people have sprung to their feet, packed their chairs and belongings and think they are getting ready to board the bus. Wrong! Still another two hours before that happens. And so the night went. Arrived at 10:00pm, finally got on a bus at around 3:30am and were dropped off on the causeway about 15 minutes latter. Now all's we had to do was wait another couple of hours before the event occured.

Thankfully they had port-a-potties, snacks and plenty of lighting out there as we were a aways from anything.

With the STS-131 sitting at it launch platform all alite with huge strob lights bearing down on it - it was still worth the wait. Our finest technology at work and some very brave souls to make it all work, A prideful night for me.

Just a few minutes prior to launch the mission flight announcer came on the loudspeaker and notified us to look up into the night sky near the almost full moon. Streaking arcross the southern sky was the Space Station. So bright in the sky, you almost see it's outline against the moon. At that point it really brought into perspective that this rocket we were about to see launched would be hooking up with the orbit space station in but a few orbits. The scale and complexity of this adventure came perfectly clear.

As the countdown clock finally reached 0, the engines ignited in a flash of brillance and but a few seconds later the thunderous roar reached us from 6 miles across the water. On time and absolutely magnificent.