God Bless the U-S-A

It's July 4th, Independence Day. Funny, it sure doesn't seem like it. Someone at work made a comment today that it was July 4th and if I was doing something to celebrate. I thought, hmmm..not really. And then I told them that on deck for tonight was a lazy night of watching football(soccer) and eating frozen pizza. I then told a fellow American Happy 4th of July - the least I could do, right?

I am currently watching live feed from the Space Shuttle Launch that will happen in about 12 minutes. It also has live radio feed, which is nice because you get to hear what everyone is saying. A minute ago they must have been talking with the Discovery Crew because one of the members said that they are excited to give the people of the west coast of Florida a good view of the "Rockets Red Glare". Yes, a little cliche, but hey, it's true.

T minus 09:00

For those of you who have seen a Shuttle Launch, it is one of the most amazing sights you will ever see and feel. I was lucky enough to be able to watch one when I lived in Orlando during the Fall of 1998. Granted, I was miles away from the launch pad, but sitting in the grass with the American Flag flying high looking at the tower with the enormous shuttle visible by the naked eye, it was an awesome feeling to feel the ground shake underneath me while I watched the shuttle disappear in the sky.

Orbiter access arm just retracted at T minus 07:00 and counting.

I wonder if either of my Great Grandmas ever thought growing up that they would have see men go to space, and then walk on the moon - A concept that will remain foreign to most people in their lifetime, unless they can afford to pay for a trip to Mars when civillian space travel is allowed (which I'm sure it will in the future).

T minus 04:00 and counting with a final test of the Control Services.

It has to be an amazing feeling to be inside the cockpit of one of the most powerful flying machines on the planet. To go where only few men will go and to walk on the non-gravitational floor of SPACE. I must be scary as well. Especially to think that there is a "Point of No Return" when they are leaving the earth's atmosphere where it is no longer possible during the ascent to come back safely to earth if one of the engines should stop working. It must be scary to hear all of the news commentary and negative comments about NASA playing with lives to advance their mission. Their come back - "It's Risk Management - they are paid to take risks..." Not sure if I agree. I wonder if the astronaunts do?

T minus 2:00 and no unexpected areas. Crew to lock visors and initiate Oxygen flow.

T minus 00:10 and counting

9...8........5.......2...1...

Lift Off

Can you imagine travelling more than 5,000 miles per hour? What a spectaular view the astronaunts must have aboard the shuttle. A view of the earth that we can only dream about.

To be an American on a day like today....I think living abroad makes you more patriotic than you may have once been. You begin to think differently about your country and your nationality. I have more respect for it. I feel like an American even though I may not be standing on my "own" land. Maybe it's because I have always been taught to be proud of where I came from. Maybe it's because my country and the US Flag are proudly displayed whenever possible. It's funny, in some countries, I have to wonder if folks are proud to be where they are from?

However, I also wonder if any other country in the world celebrates their country's Independence/Birthday with as much pizaazzz as we do. I can't think of any celebrations (and please correct if I'm wrong) where the country celebrates by bringing together family and friends with picnics, parades, patriotic music, patriotism and above all Fireworks.

Why do we celebrate like we do? We celebrate to show our thankfulness of where we are today as a country...our Freedom...our deomcrazy...and I think the Fireworks help us to remember that gratitude. For me though, they help me remember the trials and tribulations that our country has had to go through in order to be free.

You don't realize how much you miss the "fireworks" until you no longer get to watch them on a day when you are supposed to. There were no fireworks for me today. But I did figure out how to watch the World Cup Soccer (Germany v. Italy) live on my computer since I dont' have a TV. I don't want to be totally left in the dark tomorrow.

Enough Rambling....there is a reason I am not a professional writer.

Happy Fourth of July Everyone! Enjoy the Fireworks.
Miss you Lots...Hope to see you soon.
-Betsy =)