RIP Columbia

In January of 1986, I was doing something completely frivolous in my room when Mom called and asked, "Did your hear about the Challenger exploding?"

I asked, expecting a joke, "No, what about the Challanger exploding?"

"No. Really. It blew up."

I spent the next day in a fog, counting the flags flying at half staff.

On 9/11 I was far from home, and had other things on my mind.

Today, I was at work, doing something slightly less frivolous when I learned about Columbia.

Seven heroes died today. But we can't let their deaths stop our exploration of space. In an age where our country seems to be ruching headlong into war, the peaceful exploration of space must continue.

Of course, I watched the news. The Austin stations were quick to point out that there were Austin ties to the tragedy. Just like 9/11, they were eager to connect the horror to the city. After Challenger, they did the same thing. When Clinton was impeached, they found an Austin resident who was an intern. I hate the Austin news stations for that. It's like, "The World Trade Center has fallen. Let's talk to a Central Texan who walked by it a decade ago."