CNN emailed me a news bulletin: “NASA reports losing contact with space shuttle Columbia at 9 a.m. EST prior its scheduled landing at 9:16 a.m.” “That’s unfortunate,” I thought, checking CNN’s homepage, “I hope they landed safely.” Then I had to run — I was late for my meeting.
My cell phone rang — my sister, a news reporter in Florida, who only calls in the morning if something bad has happened — “Why are you calling so early?” “GO OUTSIDE. The Space Shuttle exploded. Check the sky.” “What? Ok. … No, it’s clear. I don’t see anything.” Call waiting beeps. Ignore. “There is supposed to be debris falling all over Texas.” “Jesus, that’s awful. I’ve got to go to my meeting.”
In the car, I turn on KRLD, a local news station. They’re broadcasting CNN’s audio. I check to see whose call I missed. It was my parents. Dial up Florida. On the radio, someone is telling a story of seeing it, “…we heard a loud boom…” *GASP* “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.” “Leia?” “I *gasp*… I *sob*… I heard it. *sob* I heard the *sob*. I heard the *sob* boom. It woke me up. I heard the boom. On the radio, they said there was a boom. I heard it. It woke me up. It woke Gracie up. It shook the house.”
Congressman Pete Sessions was at the meeting. He apologized for being late and unshowered. “I was stuck to my tv this morning. In case you haven’t heard, the shuttle exploded…” Those who didn’t know in the crowd were stunned.
My prayers are with the families of the astronauts.
That’s terrible. I’ve always felt Astronauts were heroic in a geeky, scientist, nonpolitical way. Some people are saying it woke them up this morning – but I was dead asleep.
Almost as disturbing – why were you at a meeting Pete Sessions was at? LOL
the boom woke me too – altho I had been up with the dogs. I thought someone had fallen on our roof and Mr. Bentley started barking his head off. It was so strange because then I didn’t hear anything else…until you called.
it woke me up as well. =(
i’m terribly sad, as i witnessed the first one as well. did you as well leia, since you lived in florida?
I was 7 when the Challenger exploded. I don’t remember much from my childhood, honestly. I have a terrible memory. From what I do recall, I was home sick that day. My mom was probably with me at that age. She was/is a teacher, so I’m sure we watched. I remember laying in my parent’s bed and watching the footage on TV.
Don’t forget to tell about being interviewed by phone for WMBBTV last night at 6 and then they replayed it at 10. You were the only one that had experienced hearing the explosion that the TV station knew through your reporter sister. Carolyn then did a report on one of the astronauts who had spent time in Panama City at the Naval Systems Lab. (Laurel Clark). I still remember well the day of the Challenger explosion.
What can a homeless person do when you go to work for someone and they dont pay you?I am just out of jail and have to stay at the mission until I can get my own place.I work hard,dont drink or do drugs.When something like this happens it just hard to keep going.