Today was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen on the Florida beach.
A cool breeze was blowing over the beautiful blue coastal waters providing a sun drenched playground for kids of all ages, seagulls, sandpipers and pellicans.
I had just sat down with a perfect view of the water with my trusty camera some good books and an ice cold drink when the lady next to me said, "oh do you have your camera ready to take a picture of the space shuttle launch?"
I remembered hearing something about a launch and said, "huh? oh is that today?"
She said it was scheduled to go in 4 minutes. What luck!
Talk about your photo op!.
I then noticed all the people lining up to watch.
After a few delays it finally shot up into the sky and a yellowish red flash flew across the sky. Everyone cheered.
(reminds me of the song i love so much by Katie Perry--Fire Work)
I happened on one other shuttle launch many years ago.
We were headed to that collegiate spring break mecca of Ft. Lauderdale and stopped off in Orlando for a few days of the Magic Kingdom.
Four of my Ole Miss girlfriends and I were huddled discussing what ride to go on next when a man next to us pointed out the shuttle in the sky.
We lliterally looked at our ticket booklet to see if we had one that would take us on that. We thought maybe it was part of the famed Space Mountain!
Hats off to the the astronauts as they are true pioneers of the Final Frontier.
If you ever get a chance to watch Apollo 13---of "Houston, we have a problem" fame---it gives a glimpse of what those men and women astronauts go through during space travel.
