Home again, home again, jiggedy jig...

We are home. Well, technically. We have come back to earth while keeping our eyes on the sky. This was quite possibly the biggest thing our family has ever witnessed/experienced/enjoyed. On so many levels. I mean, you have the obvious brother in law blasting into space thing. But there was so much more.

It was like a family reunion and high school/college reunion rolled into one. Our kids got to see and hear about who we were BC (before children) Our friends got to see who we became AC. It was amazing to see and talk to people that you used to spend every single day with 28 years ago, who you knew almost as well... if not better... than you knew yourself. All of Barry's brothers and sisters were there, that hadn't happened in at least 10 years. And everyone was united for a single cause: support Ricky's family through all these ups and downs.

I was so proud of everyone. I've never seen so many hugs and sharing on a deep level. I've never felt closer to my sister in law. She was such a trouper, really went out of her way to make sure everyone knew each other and was having fun. People came from all over the world; Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada and of course, Texas, California, New York just to witness this astronomical event. Pun intended. Course we all had a ton of time on our hands since the launch was delayed so we got to really spend a lot of time hanging out and having fun.

On Launch day, we all joined at the Slow and Low in Cocoa Beach for a good luck lunch. We were all on pins and needles since we knew there were no guarantees, we knew from Wednesdays experience that anything could happen. We were nervous because most of us would be unable to stay any longer, we had held out as long as funds and real life would allow, if the shuttle didn't go we were gonna miss it. And that was unthinkable. Before we ate, each table gathered hands, and said a communal grace. Not 5 minutes later, Ricky called. We were a go! Cheers & Hugs & the first of many tears. It was for real, it was for real... it was for real. You could feel the emotion as it went around the room. As you hugged Eloise. Like she said, "it's so strange to feel every bit of your emotions all at once..."

We head back to the hotel, getting ready... cameras, videos, good luck charms :) The extended family and friends got to be ushered to the Banana Creek viewing site on buses so we gather at a pavilion to have security check us out and to wait. Much hand grabbing and "can you believe this????" We get to Banana Creek and see how close we really are to the shuttle. Unreal. Is Ricky really going to strap himself into a rocket and be blasted off into space? But he was already strapped in. It was just a matter of time. Endless time. We wander around, taking pictures, buying souvenirs, texting our friends and family back home. The immediate family is on a balcony above our viewing stand, they wave and we cheer... more pictures. They come down, more cheering, more pictures, much more hugging. I don't believe I have ever sent as much Reiki as I did that day. I just held my hand on Eloise's back every opportunity I had. She just kept saying thank you... "I feel the karma you are sending" How cute she called it karma. Rhia, the Reiki Master in training was sending it too... and Sheree at home...

Next thing we know the countdown clock starts up again (NASA has these weird built in holds where they stop the clock for long periods of time, I dunno) We scramble to our seats to get ready. Mike, the astronaut who was everywhere we were, started explaining everything to us... how the astronauts were feeling... how he felt when he was strapped in for 3 hours and how they feel right now.. 10 minutes before lift off. It was just all so surreal. The next thing we know they start playing the National Anthem. We stand, put our hands over our hearts, staring at the shuttle launch pad and we sing. I look over at my old friend, Kris, tears streaming down her face and smile. I'm not the only one. I put my hands together and begin to pray. 10, 9, 8... OMG this is really happening...7, 6, 5...water and smoke and fire 4, 3, 2, 1 BLAST OFF!~

The ground starts rumbling... the rockets begin to take off... what an incredible sight! We are cheering and then as the shuttle begins to clear the pad we are silent. Eyes glued to this big ball of flames.. not even breathing... not even a coherent thought.. just witnessing. And then Mike the Astronaut breaks the silence.. "it's okay, _____ and (((( andlajeaoehoahea" No clue what he said but we all start cheering cause we know it's okay. It was the longest 8 minutes I've ever spent. Every few moments, Houston and Mike the Astronaut would explain what was happening and we would cheer... rocket boosters separating... contingency plans and what not... I'm sure it was all perfect but for me the specifics didn't matter. Are they safe? Do they get to live their dreams? Did this really happen? Look at the plume of smoke as it hits the sunset, brilliant oranges and yellows and blues. I will never forget this day.

Afterwards, when you could no longer see even a blip on the horizon, people begin to leave. Leave? How can we leave? We need to stay here til they get back!!!! But leave we did. After a farewell party on the beach and a 15 hour car trip we are home. The NASA channel constantly on our living room laptop... trying to get back into the swing of our old life. But after that, all this seems kinda, well... I dunno... anticlimactic?

Ricky's up til the 28th. He had his first space walk yesterday as I was home folding laundry. Sigh. Amazing. Watching your brother in law float in space. Just surreal. Did that really happen?