Columbia Anniversary

The fact that the two Shuttle tragedies happened so close to each other on the calendar never really sunk in before.

It's interesting that the Columbia tragedy didn't affect me the same way as the Challenger. Was it the sad fact that it wasn't new, that it had happened before? Perhaps because I was older and busier with less time to dwell on the sad event.

I do remember the day vividly of course. We were busy getting ready for Jack's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. At the party the three year-olds were blissfully ignorant of the tragic happenings but the parents murmered "sad," "terrible," and "again."

Five years later missions continue but those we lost are not forgotten. It is our prayer that we never have a third Shuttle disaster.