What a Blast!

Blast off that is. Last night was the launch of the Space X Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. We are so lucky to live so close, it is only probably 30 miles as the crow flies, and when a launch goes up it feels like just down the street.  We have seen them go up during the day and they are just as bright as the moon when it appears in the daytime, but night time is unbelievable! 

Here above, is Charlie and our neighbor friend Patti, counting down to take off. Patti has the app on her phone that shows the whole thing and she keeps us up to date and informed.

Above we are looking at the phone ready and waiting.

We see it first appear through the trees as and incredible bright wide orange light, like a bonfire. As it rises into the sky it becomes a ball with a tail, like the photo below.  It moves in an arc through the sky, not straight up like you would imagine.  At one point you could see what I think are several boosters separating from the main rocket because, a bunch of fire fell away from the tail and was all sparkly fanning out in a circle, very dramatic, as the falcon continued on its way.  

It may seem silly, but it is incredibly exciting to watch these events; I feel privileged.  Growing up in the 60s and 70s my mother kept us children very informed about space exploration. We watched every rocket launch on TV and discussed it on end. She had booklets for us to read and look at pictures in. And, I can remember her telling stories about her grandparents talking about the craziness of people thinking they would ever going to the moon, and if they did all they would find was green cheese, that would crack me up. 

Secretly I have to admit I was a die hard fan of "I Dream of Genie" the television show.  Do you know Coco beach (where they lived on the show) is just down the road from where we are. I get so excited when I think about being so close to where Captain Nelson and Genie lived!

So there is another Blast- a Blast from the past.

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