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Issue #271, July 18th, 2024 Houston back to Boulder
Journal July 18th, 2024 Houston back to Boulder.
The adventure with Orion continues. Today is the day we head back home, but not without first exploring the NASA Space Museum. We immersed ourselves in space exploration and the history of space missions, starting with the Apollo program, and to future endeavors such as going to Mars.
What struck me was the spirit of innovation even in the face of setbacks that every program experienced. We climbed aboard the space shuttle and the 747 to which it was attached, and marveled at things like spacewalks, and surviving in very unusual conditions.
Orion loved it too. He was so excited to see all the exhibits. He tells me he wants to learn to fly someday. And of course, he thinks being an astronaut would be exciting. But he paused a little at the prospect of spending 6 months on a spaceship to Mars.
Unfortunately, our pre-booked tour of mission control was canceled due to thunder and rain. They kept us hanging, pushing the time back until they eventually gave up as the rain continued.
Oh, well. As Orion said, “We’ll save that for the next visit”!
We had a pretty relaxed morning too. Orion slept in while I journaled and drank little automatic espressos, and we had a quick bite to eat at Finn's food court, before getting out of there.
The entire hotel parking scenario was similar in feel to our stay in Liverpool, minus the music, but substituting spaceships in intergalactic travel.
Orion wanted to again stop at a Walmart to get some shirts and socks. He impulsively picked up some sweet white sugar cookies which he ended up trying to give away in the airport. He admonished me only once, when I swore in response to his announcement that the plane was going to be delayed. He said, “Don't swear, Dad”. In that moment I realized how good he is at seeing the positive in every development, something I've been trying to learn my whole life, though I believe I am generally more accepting of the way events unfold, than my Dad was).
Orion also got stuck in the security line twice. The TSA officer insisted he use his real driver's license, instead of his digital one. Pus, he didn't take his iPad out, which they tell you todo. They made a big deal about having to remove it from his pack and rescanning it. I didn't say anything, but I could tell he was perturbed.
I think overall, we had a really nice father-and-son trip, and my heart is full with memories of him and our mostly sweet exchanges. Only at the end, while we waited for the plane at the airport, was he slightly irritable, but it wasn't about anything I had done. Most likely, he was hungry.
He devised another plan to sell the remaining packs and bags he got from Sherpani (a business Oli’s parents own), and setting up (and automatically forwarding text alerts to us) when he gets 4 mile fire alerts while he's gone (since he’s now started volunteering for the department).
So, I feel exhausted, but good. I spent a bunch of time creating a photo album for the Eldorado State Park staff, about note cards they might want to sell at the visitors center.
I saw Phoenix briefly, who was on his way to work out and then work. He was bummed he missed seeing Orion. Orion had already left for Oli’s house at 6.3 am, because now he is on a plane to Hilton Head, to be with her and her family for 10 days.
Paige is coming home from the mountains today. We had a FaceTime just a little bit ago. She has loved camping on her own.
One funny dream I had in Houston, which I'll relate. I was actually feeling kind of constipated while there, and this was bugging me. So the 2nd night there, I had a dream that the house I was in was filling up with water, and it was very alarming. I found where the drain was and stuck my hand in and started pulling all this gross stuff out; gradually unblocking the drains, and the water started to recede.
Our flight was repeatedly delayed, so we didn't leave until nearly 11 Houston time, which was 12 Denver time. We finally got back home at 2 a.m. after completing the final step, which was to get to canopy parking and drive home. So, I'm really tired now!!
Journal July 18th, 2024 Houston back to Boulder.
The adventure with Orion continues. Today is the day we head back home, but not without first exploring the NASA Space Museum. We immersed ourselves in space exploration and the history of space missions, starting with the Apollo program, and to future endeavors such as going to Mars.
What struck me was the spirit of innovation even in the face of setbacks that every program experienced. We climbed aboard the space shuttle and the 747 to which it was attached, and marveled at things like spacewalks, and surviving in very unusual conditions.
Orion loved it too. He was so excited to see all the exhibits. He tells me he wants to learn to fly someday. And of course, he thinks being an astronaut would be exciting. But he paused a little at the prospect of spending 6 months on a spaceship to Mars.
Unfortunately, our pre-booked tour of mission control was canceled due to thunder and rain. They kept us hanging, pushing the time back until they eventually gave up as the rain continued.
Oh, well. As Orion said, “We’ll save that for the next visit”!
We had a pretty relaxed morning too. Orion slept in while I journaled and drank little automatic espressos, and we had a quick bite to eat at Finn's food court, before getting out of there.
The entire hotel parking scenario was similar in feel to our stay in Liverpool, minus the music, but substituting spaceships in intergalactic travel.
Orion wanted to again stop at a Walmart to get some shirts and socks. He impulsively picked up some sweet white sugar cookies which he ended up trying to give away in the airport. He admonished me only once, when I swore in response to his announcement that the plane was going to be delayed. He said, “Don't swear, Dad”. In that moment I realized how good he is at seeing the positive in every development, something I've been trying to learn my whole life, though I believe I am generally more accepting of the way events unfold, than my Dad was).
Orion also got stuck in the security line twice. The TSA officer insisted he use his real driver's license, instead of his digital one. Pus, he didn't take his iPad out, which they tell you todo. They made a big deal about having to remove it from his pack and rescanning it. I didn't say anything, but I could tell he was perturbed.
I think overall, we had a really nice father-and-son trip, and my heart is full with memories of him and our mostly sweet exchanges. Only at the end, while we waited for the plane at the airport, was he slightly irritable, but it wasn't about anything I had done. Most likely, he was hungry.
He devised another plan to sell the remaining packs and bags he got from Sherpani (a business Oli’s parents own), and setting up (and automatically forwarding text alerts to us) when he gets 4 mile fire alerts while he's gone (since he’s now started volunteering for the department).
So, I feel exhausted, but good. I spent a bunch of time creating a photo album for the Eldorado State Park staff, about note cards they might want to sell at the visitors center.
I saw Phoenix briefly, who was on his way to work out and then work. He was bummed he missed seeing Orion. Orion had already left for Oli’s house at 6.3 am, because now he is on a plane to Hilton Head, to be with her and her family for 10 days.
Paige is coming home from the mountains today. We had a FaceTime just a little bit ago. She has loved camping on her own.
One funny dream I had in Houston, which I'll relate. I was actually feeling kind of constipated while there, and this was bugging me. So the 2nd night there, I had a dream that the house I was in was filling up with water, and it was very alarming. I found where the drain was and stuck my hand in and started pulling all this gross stuff out; gradually unblocking the drains, and the water started to recede.
Our flight was repeatedly delayed, so we didn't leave until nearly 11 Houston time, which was 12 Denver time. We finally got back home at 2 a.m. after completing the final step, which was to get to canopy parking and drive home. So, I'm really tired now!!
solo/group kukai
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen