I heard a news story today that made me stop and think. It was about the astronaut, Mark Kelly, planning to go into space. I am the first to admit that my knowledge is limited. I don't know how Representative Giffords is doing, but I did my little Wikipedia research and found that he's already spent 38 days in space. I found that he has 2 children. At that point, I formed an opinion--an opinion that really only matters to me--but after all, it's my blog.
I have had the pleasure to watch a man--without hesitation or complaint--give up his dream to protect and serve his family. Never, not one complaint. So I'm biased. No astronaut could ever rise to the heights of my husband.
When Keith and I got married, he was finishing his degree in political science and looking forward to an adventurous career in the diplomatic corps for the United States. He passed the written exam on his first try after everyone told him that it would take multiple times. His professors helped him prepare for his orals and we went to LA. On the morning of the exam, he wrecked the car and still did well enough that they told him the only reason they couldn't accept him was that he wasn't a minority. He took it in stride and said he would do it again.
Flash forward. We have Ian. Keith passes the written again. This time he flies to DC to do the oral part. The night before, he receives a message from God that this isn't the path that our family is to go. He came home from that trip satisfied. Not disappointed. Not dejected. Not resentful. Satisfied. He has been confident ever since that Ian's health dictated a secure life in this country, close to the best hospitals in the world and that was an incredible gift for a father to give.
It was a gift for me too. Not that I wouldn't have loved the exotic travel and unique experiences. I would have, but the amount of worry that decision relieved me of is unmeasurable. Not to mention how many extra years if provided in our young man's life.
So, to the contrast. It is unfathomable to me that this astronaut could put anything, including space in front of his wife and children. Even if she did tell him to go. So. There is a very real possibility that he won't ever come home to her. In fact, if it were calculated, I wonder what percentage of all shuttle astronauts have blown up? She needs him. His kids need him. He's already been. How full of himself can one person be? If it comes down to what's more important, his crew or his family, does he really even need to think?
Priorities. My Deli-man is more heroic than an astronaut and he doesn't have to leave the atmosphere to show me.
1 comment:
Hear, hear!
Post a Comment