Where Were You When?

my first "where were you when" moment happened 25 years ago today...the Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after lift-off...

i was in first grade at Trautwein Elementary school. my teacher was mrs. spencer. our class, and all the other first grade classes, had gathered in another teacher's room (mrs. hummel i believe) because it was the biggest one for our grade level. the students were seated on the floor. the teachers were gathered at the rear of the room. the tv -- on its big tall cart -- was in front of us all...we counted down with the man on the tv. we watched the shuttle in awe.

then the worst thing that can happen at a shuttle launch happened. we (the students) did not know that was not suppose to happen -- we thought it was all part of a shuttle take-off. i remember clapping (and possibly cheering)...

then we noticed the teachers were crying in the back of the room. they knew it shouldn't have looked like that. they knew the shuttle had exploded. they knew all the astronauts were dead. they knew that very special teacher, Christa McAuliffe, had perished. they knew. we did not.

this has been a day that made me think -- i guess this is my kennedy assassination -- it is my first, but unfortunately it is not my last...