Watching the Space Shuttle Launch. It Wasn't The Beagle

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=100309441

I actually got to watch the launch today. 
 It was just luck.  I got up so late, that I was drinking coffee and sat down in front of the TV and there it was.  It makes me sad that this is the last launch.  The space shuttle has been something that I have always found interesting.  I remember when they were taking applications for a teacher to go on the Challenger.  I actually got an application and filled it out.  But I found out I was pregnant with Paxton, so I didn't send it.  The day The Challenger exploded, January 28, 1986, I had to leave school early because Paxton had gotten sick at daycare.  I had just gotten home with him and turned on the TV to watch it launch.  That was so dreadful.

Our Wall of Research on the existing Space Shuttles.

Later, NASA had a contest for classrooms to enter to name the next space shuttle.  So I sent off for all the information and got my class involved.  The proposed name had to be the name of an ocean vessel that was a ship of exploration and research.


So for the first week the students researched ships and names.  A boy named Erik found The Beagle on which Charles Darwin sailed .  Of course 4th graders would think The Beagle was a great name.  My then, Kennedy- husband, advised me that The Beagle did not sound like a winning name; too much controversy with Darwin and look at what the other Space Shuttles' names sounded like Columbia, Challenger, Discover, and Atlantis.  But I loved it because it did sound like a name that the kids chose.

Our replica of the Space Shuttle and The Beagle

This was a great project that the kids did themselves and several parents really stepped up and worked hard with the students. The students wrote a skit, played a song on their recorders and sang a rap song with the help of parents and performed them for every class in the school.





I always loved all my students and classes, but this was an exceptional group of students.  It goes without saying that NASA did not choose our class's very wonderful and involve project and name a space shuttle The Beagle.

Our space shuttle crew with Charles Darwin (actually Molly)

I think a 5th grade class in Mississippi won and the name chosen was The Endeavor.  I think the Ex was right on this. I saw the class project that won and it wasn't much--really, but they had the name that the NASA folks liked.

So now the Space Shuttle will ride off into history.

Flashback

Don and I went to a movie this afternoon.  It was Water for Elephants.  That was strange because I had just noticed on someone's blog profile that one of their favorite books is Water for Elephants.  I had written it down to get the book. I will likely read it even though I saw the movie first.  It is best to do it the other way around.  It is a good movie and I can recommend it.

Anyway, when we returned, our yard was full of grandsons and their friends.  I was told that tonight was Eden Gardens' fundraiser at Jason's Deli.  So I called in my order for a tuna melt and walked to get it. Jason's tuna melts are so good.

As I walked into Jason's Deli, I saw a man with 2 boys.  I immediately recognized the boy who was about 11 years old.  I had taught him about 20 years ago, when he was in 4th grade at Judson.  Well, after you read that again, yes, you will know that that did not make sense.  I couldn't restrain myself from speaking to the 11 year old as if I had just seen him in school today.  I know I looked crazy, but he was very responsive.  After a second, I looked at his father and said, "You went to Judson and I taught you.  Your name is Byron?"  He was amazed that I remembered and recognized him 25 years later. But of course it wasn't him I recognized it was his son.  The son looked just like I remembered his father at that age.  The real Byron said, "You're Mrs. Kennedy?" And yes, I was Mrs. Kennedy when I taught him.  He asked what I was doing now.  I told him that I retired from teaching and now serve on the School Board.  He asked in a rather quizzical manner, "And you like that?"  I answered, "Well of course not.  I just wanted to make a difference in education.  I was tired of the decisions others were making for teachers and students." He introduced me to his sons and we briefly caught up on a few things.

I have run into many of my former students through the years.  But this is the first time where I have seen one with a child that looked exactly like the parent did when they were in my class.  Byron's name was so easy for me to recall, since he is the only child I ever taught named Byron.  It was one of the strangest moments of my life.  For a second I was back 25 years ago.  I left feeling 25 years younger.
Of course the reality of the situation hit me as soon as I got home. 
                      OMG, I'm that old!