![\"Helmet](\"http:\/\/plan.thewoottons.com\/archives\/images\/columbiaHelmet.jpg\")
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Some pictures stick with you, forever emblazoned in your subconsious. By odd coicidence, the wife and I watched Columbia rise I was in middle school. Class was stopped. A TV was rolled into As an adult, I don’t know if I can do much better. The event The difference in this case is that tragedy befell an American My son visited church for the first time this morning. The pastor
\nThe fragments of space shuttle
\nColumbia<\/a> falling from the sky
\non Saturday morning formed one such picture. The helmet to the right
\nis a stark reminder of the loss of life it included.<\/p>\n
\nfrom the sky two weeks ago. I was quite excited.
\nI hadn’t witnessed a live lauch of the shuttle since I was young.
\nWe just happened to turn on the TV. I waited 20 minutes
\nfor the countdown. Incredible science wrapped
\nin a fiery display of power. For a couple of minutes, I was
\nthat kid again. The anticipation was real. Danger does not
\nhave to be explained to a child of my generation. We remember
\nChallenger<\/a>. We remember the last time it happened.<\/p>\n
\nthe room and we were shown a story with not such a happy ending.
\nAs a kid, I don’t know if I truly understood the events.
\nSomething was wrong but it’s meaning was tough to explain.<\/p>\n
\nitself is tragic. But the world is full of tragedy. One of
\nmy biggest memories of Saturday was that my first thought, and
\nthe thoughts of many others, lead to questions of terrorism.
\nIt didn’t help that I learned of the event via a telephone call:
\n“Did you hear the news?”<\/p>\n
\nicon. The shuttle bears our stars and stripes. The
\npassengers<\/a>
\ninside were heroes. They had the job that every little boy’s
\nheart desires. This felt a bit personal.<\/p>\n
\nmentioned he was glad we picked this day. The joy of a new life
\ncould temper the loss still fresh in the minds of the
\ncongregation. I hope it helped. The shining faces around me
\nmade me believe it did.<\/p>\n