Friday News

Wednesday, we were at our motorhome getting ready to leave to go board the bus taking us to the viewing site for the launch.  We turned the TV on at 3:30 p.m. and saw the report that the launch had been scrubbed.  Some of our family and friends were at Kennedy Space Center waiting to board buses to their viewing sites.  The high level of excitement turned to disbelief, then to relief that the shuttle was not going to be flown when there was still a problem.  It had been an emotional day for us.  At 1 a.m., 10 of our family had driven to a sight to be taken by bus to the launch pad by 2 a.m.  There, we stood near the fence at the pad.  The shuttle scaffolding had been removed, the shuttle was visible as it is seen in pictures, and the whole area was lit.  We were able to take many pictures and video.  We watched the arm and cap come down on the top of the large orange fuel tank.  It was all amazing.  Official cars were driving up the ramp to the shuttle and "little ant size" people compared to the shuttle were working.  We got back to our motorhome about 3:30 a.m. 

Skipping ahead to Friday - We took a deep breathe.  After breakfast with family and friends, Phil, Jim, and I went to Disney World where we met Janeen and boys and their escort.  We had a wonderful day relaxing and having fun together.  Tony is still in quarantine.  Janeen and the boys talk to him on the phone.  We are praying for a safe, successful launch on Sunday at 7:43 p.m.