Its hard to believe its been 20 Years since it went up...

Is it one of those moments like Kennedy's assisination that you just remember where you were and what you were doing?

I was still in school...we brought a TV in to watch it but that didnt last long.

 

They let our school out early that day. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 9.

 

Actually, it was January 28, 1986. I'll never forget it because that's my Mother's birthday).

I was in the 11th grade, and we were in History class that morning. Charlie came to school super-late that day (It was 2nd period) and he brought Mr. Hall a note. As he walked to his desk he said- "Yall heard the space-shuttle blew up right?" We all looked at him like he was crazy, and class went on...

I mean, most normal people wouldn't say "the shuttle blew up." Normal people would have said- "the space shuttle was destroyed", or "the space shuttle exploded on the way up this morning" Not just "The space shuttle blew up".

Then, about 5 minutes later, Mr. Jackson announced over the intercom that the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed during it's lift off this morning.

My mom was a teacher, and I remember Christa McCullie (Or something like that) was to be the first teacher in space. I wished my Mom had gotten that honor. To hear that the shuttle blew up and she was aboard horrified me... That could have been my mom...
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THen, 18 years later, the Columbia disentegrated over Dallas one crisp Saturday morning as I laid in bed.

Certain things happen that are so profound you will never forget them, or what you were doign when it happened...

 

I was in 3rd grade. I remember everyone getting worked up. I remember thinking how tragic it was but I also thought that getting shot up in the air on a plane that was strapped to a missle couldnt be that safe. I was amazed each time it didnt blow up.

Either way its tragic to lose innocent lives.

 

I remember it because I was in college and there was this one girl who I thought was really cute who was always hanging out in the student union at certain times of day and I would always make sure I was there when she was there! She was brunette, kind of waify, and a little on the punk-rock side. (Think Mary Stuart Masterson in "Some Kind Of Wonderful.")

I remember being in the TV room while all the news reports were going on and spending most of the time watching her watch TV! She was sitting there with her shoes off and her legs curled sideways underneath her, and she would occassionally reach into her backpack for a book, or a pencil, or whatever. I thought at that moment she might have been the most adorable creature I had ever laid my eyes on and wondered what I could possibly do to meet her that wouldn't seem like I was just some "Gomer" walking up to talk about the weather or something lame like that!

Alas, I never did come up with anything, or the courage to go up and just start talking to her. She's probably in her late-30's or early-40's now, chasing around a couple of screaming kids, and stressing about the last 10 pounds she can't seem to lose.

If she only knew that there was someone out there who, twenty years later, still remembers how pretty she was and wonders about how her life might have turned out....

 

I'd ask what that has to do with the space shuttle, but- you mentioned a hottie, so, it's all good. Don't you hate those gorgeous girls?

I'm not scared of a 300 lb man, but something about starting up a conversation with a gorgeous 5'4" 120 lbs woman- can give me a moment of pause.

 

I remember the day too. I got called for an job interview that day. I got hired a month later and have been there ever since. Celebrate 20 years next month.

 

yup...

jan 28..1986

i was building a gold crushing machine (then) where i came back to work now..

it was at lunch time..the "garbage" truck just left...


my boss (now) was helping me and we heard it on the radio...

i'm lost for type

...zap!

 

I have always been very interested in astronomy, and the nasa program. I went to get some lunch and i heard on a comedy radio channel called the zoo back then from Philadelphia 93.3 that the shuttle blew up. I thought it was a joke. I raced home and i turned on cnn and for the next 12 hours saw the shuttle blow up about 60 times.

A few years ago i spent a week just looking up the spack shuttle info that was available. Some people were saying they were alive after it blew up.A switch was hit for oxygen for the crew. They had no chance since the crew cabin hit the water at over 200 miles a hour.

 

I was 19, in a Chevy dealership looking at a new car. I hadn't heard about the explosion, the salesman told me. At that, we both got up and ran over to the TV which was tuned to the news. Only time in my life a salseman didn't try to sell me a new car.

 

I remember reading autopsy reports that several crew members had drown. They were alive when they hit the water.

 

I was at the Commissary getting groceries when I heard about it from several other shoppers. Another sad day for our country to remember