HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS and ANTICIPATION

This holiday season has me wishing each of you joyous, healthy, happy, and prosperous days in 2015!    

I  do relish each day's moments, but they seem to slip by ever so quickly -- often unexpectedly interrupted with instances of reflection or anticipatory thoughts for the unknown future as I continue "living in place."   

Reflection seems to become more pronounced for me this time of year --  stimulated by seasonal music -- often prompted,  too, by the holiday greetings received from friends, family, loved ones.  They give me pause to note the hand writing of the sender -- if differences observed in letter-making firmness, grammar, language used in thought expression -- to wonder if some writers may be experiencing other functional changes.   A very few greeting cards may have only an imprinted or signed name.   Hand-written personal notes, typed letters recounting personal family activity highlights and enclosed photos are especially welcomed by me.   Voice quality reveals much of emotions beyond words if we're able to talk. 

 I also become acutely aware of those from whom I no longer have contact by greeting card, phone, other social means causing me to wonder about their welfare.  My reality for too many years, especially as I've aged, is that this does not always bode well.   I know loss is to be expected, but the reality is no less difficult to accept as I celebrate a loved ones life. 

A profound loss for me early in this past year was that of my brother, a most significant person in my life about whom I have written here previously.   My big brother's personal caring for me provided unparalleled emotional sustenance and support throughout much of my life though we had erratic lengthy periods of time apart, separated by many miles, even oceans.  

This WWII veteran proudly served abroad in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service.  His subsequent civilian professional life centered on facilitating radio communication through association with many of the primary electronic companies focused on radio/television aspects in this major evolving technology of the time.    The result was his involvement with Project Vanguard, a beginning to our nation's space program and a forerunner to NASA's formation.    

("Project Vanguard -- The NASA History" by Constance McLaughlin Green, and Milton Lomask includes a must read introduction by Paul Dickson, "Sputnik" author.   He succinctly describes the Project's scientific successes leading to significant technologies today which others have omitted reporting.   Instead writers briefly allude only to a launch failure, but omit reference to the harried times with Vanguard's unique pressure-to-launch circumstances when Russia unexpectedly revealed their space program by successfully launching "Sputnik.")   

So many reflections I have since his death and especially this season.....

Vanguard's Ecuador satellite tracking station on Cotopaxi, a potentially active volcano over 19,000 ft with one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, became his work site for a couple of years.    Saving for a flight to visit him and family in the countries capitol city of Quito became high on my priority list.  The flight there on the countries airline -- even though they weren't known for punctual schedules, give a day or two, and unscheduled stops along the way -- such as Panama going, Peru and Jamaica on return after a one day departure delay -- still allowed me to enjoy the flight adventure, culture and people for a memorable trip.   One unusual activity occurred at a site where I could stand on both sides of the equator by placing one foot on each side simultaneously.   Strangely, a tiny, wizened, weather-worn old woman appeared there before we left and put a curse on us.  

Another uncommon recollection after he returned to the U.S. was my seeing a TV airline commercial many years ago, "Give your wife Hawaii for Christmas!"   He was employed by a different company, living on the east coast by then, but, coincidentally,  he did just that -- summer of the new year the family moved to Oahu.   Unfortunately, not long after the family with teen children moved to that idyllic island his wife received a medical diagnosis of ovarian cancer which ultimately took her life.    

Changes for him continued as he remarried, left the electronics industry where he had additionally become engaged in recruiting, and briefly pursued a state political office.   His progression into industrial relations resulted in another  geographic move to participate in implementing Indonesia's then-ruler's plan for a staple food program to expand his nation's rice production.  Finally returning to another of Hawaii's spectacular volcanic islands his focus then addressed the companies sugar and macadamia nut production.  Subsequent retirement years offered he and his artist wife an opportunity to devote their energies toward a more settled home location.


Maintaining close connections through the years with those I care about can be challenging when many miles and even oceans separate us.   I've come to realize I much prefer the privacy accorded by postal letters or land-line phone calls for meaningful personal communication.  Current digital devices I now relegate to carrying mostly only general or superficial commentary. 

I'll be anticipating receiving those holiday cards, letters, phone calls, photos and the reflections they stimulate next holiday season -- and even some throughout the year along the way.  
    

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration came into being during my lifetime.  Now after many decades their mission has significantly changed.   NASA's memory book for 2012 becomes especially meaningful as we begin the new year of 2013.  Future manned space flight is evolving into the commercial realm while the future of scientific space exploration will have NASA focusing on unmanned flights from our shores.

My interest in the possibilities of space exploration began as a young woman with NASA's forerunner, Project Vanguard, which initiated unmanned space flights.  The potential space travel  prospects became much more real and personal to me when a family member became involved in that Project, eventually manning the Quito, Ecuador, S.A. tracking station, one of several strategically placed around the world. 

Subsequent years NASA formed, then developed manned space flight.   The nation's interest increased as did mine.  I was especially attracted by the fact that two prominent astronauts, John Glenn, later Neil Armstrong, were from my then home state of Ohio -- communities nearby my own.  I remember well the tension, anxiety for their safety and the excitement viewing all televised space launches -- then astronauts returning  in capsules to the ocean initially, eventually in shuttles to earth.

There were tragic losses of astronauts lives reminding us of the dangers associated with travel into this new space frontier.   Our astronauts have been daring courageous explorers supported by many vital capable technical scientists whose names with which we have little familiarity.  Unlike our nations early explorers who could venture across our unknown lands relatively independently, space exploration success depends on teams of  highly trained knowledgeable individuals able to work together as a unit  dedicated to a unified goal.   

Many years later in 2012 the final space shuttle, Endeavour, has been retired with much nostalgia and fanfare to Southern California.  We've been privileged to live in exciting times that future generations will learn about as history.   I look forward with great curiosity to the future, as 2013 begins. 

Happy New Year wishes to you !