Date: 2010-01-29
To: Final Countdown
Miles today: 0.0

3, 2, 1ContactIs the secretIs the momentWhen everything happensContactIs the answerIs the reasonWhy everything happensContactLet's make contact3, 2, 1, Contact!- theme from ¢3-2-1 Contact!¢ TV showThe lyrics above are for the opening song from a TV science show that I used to watch with the kids. I¢ve always liked that moment before something happened as well as the moment it did - that tipping point moment. I¢ve been fascinated by video footage of a smoldering fire in a room as it reaches the flashover point. The photo sequence of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens showing the explosion in split-second increments leaves me slack-jawed. One of my favorite posters as a teenager was of someone, arm up-raised, ready to drive his ice axe into a summit ¢ that final instant between not-done and done.I don¢t ride roller coasters much these days, but I think my favorite part used to be near the beginning.   There¢s that long, seemingly-endless climb to the top. The people and buildings below get smaller and smaller. The sounds of music and squeals of laughter fall away, too. Only the ticka-ticka-ticka of the drive rack remains. As the cars crest the very top even that chattering rattle stops. The distant world is silent and I feel only a faint breeze. The little train of cars slows, and time seems to stand still, waiting, waiting for gravity to take over. We sit on the brink, balanced precariously.   Slowly at first, but then ever more quickly, the cars plunge down the slope. The wind rushes past.And I scream.These days as the cars start to slip down, one by one, I have the urge to climb over the back of my seat into the seat behind, then into the one behind that, postponing that dreadful fall. If I crawl quickly enough perhaps I can change the center of gravity enough that the train of cars won¢t plummet down!As I ponder the next 6 months or more, I feel a bit like that, wondering what I¢ve gotten myself into. Can I keep myself from falling, falling into this adventure? My head reminds me that I REALLY want to do this, have dreamed of it for years, and that now is the time. Any concerns are just the fear of uncertainty bubbling up, not a fear to be heeded or even acknowledged. But my tummy is on its own little carnival ride anyway.I wonder how it would be to be an astronaut waiting for liftoff, a humongous firecracker strapped to my back, waiting for that moment when everything will happen ¢ when it will ignite.   I think of all the preparation and anticipation that goes into a mission like that. I think of the clock ticking down to that instant the mission actually begins.I have an affinity for this last metaphor since I married a guy with the last name of Rockett. Yeah, ok. He¢s a scientist, which means that I married¢¦..a Rockett scientist. (Ba-dum-pssshh. Thank you, thank you. You¢ve been a wonderful audience. If you liked that, you should have seen the birth announcements for our kids!) I¢ll be flying to Atlanta tomorrow morning, and right now I feel like I¢m strapped onto that enormous firecracker, helpless to change anything. Climbing back over the seat behind me won¢t change anything. The clock is counting down. I imagine I hear voices.Flight director: ¢OK, people. We¢re resuming the countdown after that bad weather hold. I want this to be a clean mission, so give me a clear, audible response. Medical.¢Medical: ¢All check ups competed.   Heart rate and respiration are currently elevated, but within tolerance.   Go, Flight.¢Flight: ¢Physical Training.¢Physical training: ¢Not great, but close enough. Go.¢Flight: ¢Household.¢Household: ¢Not even close, but the husband will still be here to take up the slack. Go.¢Flight: ¢Gear.¢Gear: ¢That¢s a go.¢Flight: ¢Weather.¢Weather: ¢I don¢t know. The weather this early is very iffy. It could be a blizzard or it could be 80* and sunny. It¢s all such a crap shoot. Aw, hell. Go for it!Flight: ¢Professional Life.¢Professional Life: ¢I¢ve said it before ¢ this could be professional suicide.   After building up the business now you¢re going to leave and -¢Flight: ¢- Sounds like we¢ve got a lot of static on the line. Bucket List, look into this.¢(*WHACK*   *THUD*)Bucket List: ¢We¢re all fine here. How are you? We¢re having a little technical problem, but we¢ve got it locked down. Professional Life¢s board is green. Go.¢Flight: ¢What about you, Bucket List? Is it a go?¢Bucket List: ¢Yeehaw! Kick the tires and light the fires!¢Flight: ¢Friends.¢Friends: ¢You go, girl!¢Flight: ¢Kids.¢Kids: ¢W/E¢Flight: ¢I said, ¢an AUDIBLE response¢!¢Kids: ¢Whatever.¢Flight: ¢Husband.¢Husband: ¢Uh, sure, Dear. If that¢s what you want¢¦.¢Flight: We are ¢Go¢ for launch. Launch Control: Commencing final launch sequence. T minus ten, nine, we have ignition sequence start. Six, five, four, ¢¦                                                 (To be continued¢¦..)