Challenger Memorial
For my 27th birthday on June 8th, I went to visit the memorial of the space shuttle Challenger at Arlington Cemetery. By doing so, I kept to my tradition of celebrating my day of birth by not opening gifts, but doing something commemorative that keeps me on my path towards destiny. Two years ago, I, on a whim, bought a cheap plane ticket to London and saw the Transit of Venus. I also visited the Westminster Abbey and visited Isaac Newton's tomb. Here's what I said about it in my "about me" page:
This year, I had no idea what I would do on my birthday, up to the day of reckoning. I don't think I ever had a birthday party ever since I was in grade school. That happens when your birthday falls on a date where everybody's out of town! As you can see, I have lately focused on space. It is a fire in me that has burned ever since I can remember. That is what led me to impulsively decide to visit the Challenger memorial in order to remember Astronaut Judith Resnik, who had a deaf family member and cared very deeply about the deaf. She was known for always wearing a ILY necklace. Forty days after the Challenger tragedy, the destroyed remains of the shuttle cabin was found in the Atlantic Ocean. Almost no remains were found. What WAS found were only a few strands of Judy's hair and her ILY necklace.
That fact was like pouring gasoline over my burning desire to travel to space. I am absolutely sure that if Judy Resnik was still alive today, she would strive to help us work with NASA to change their rules about deaf people traveling to space. I was very curious whether if I could find pictures of her wearing the ILY necklace, and after some research at the library, I sure did! Below are some pictures of Judy's ILY necklace with enhanced closeups of the "I Love You" hand, both on Earth and in space. It is a bit blurry, but there is no question that she was wearing something that meant a lot to her- a love for the deaf. How come no one ever knew about this?!
click for full-size version
I visited his tomb at the Westminster Abbey last summer, one of the most spiritual experiences I ever had. Traveling to London to celebrate my 25th birthday, which coincided with the June 8, 2004 transit of Venus, barely visible from America. Westminster Abbey is very strict with their no-picture policy, but knowing that I was there to specifically pay my respects to Sir Isaac Newton, they led me into a cordoned-off area, off limits to the general public, where his tomb was at. The priest then told me to take as many pictures and videos as I wanted. I couldn't believe it, I was able to lay my hands against his sarcophagus, and kneel on his grave, literally inches away from his body (if it is still there). Ever since then, I have striven to emulate him. Click for pictures
This year, I had no idea what I would do on my birthday, up to the day of reckoning. I don't think I ever had a birthday party ever since I was in grade school. That happens when your birthday falls on a date where everybody's out of town! As you can see, I have lately focused on space. It is a fire in me that has burned ever since I can remember. That is what led me to impulsively decide to visit the Challenger memorial in order to remember Astronaut Judith Resnik, who had a deaf family member and cared very deeply about the deaf. She was known for always wearing a ILY necklace. Forty days after the Challenger tragedy, the destroyed remains of the shuttle cabin was found in the Atlantic Ocean. Almost no remains were found. What WAS found were only a few strands of Judy's hair and her ILY necklace.
That fact was like pouring gasoline over my burning desire to travel to space. I am absolutely sure that if Judy Resnik was still alive today, she would strive to help us work with NASA to change their rules about deaf people traveling to space. I was very curious whether if I could find pictures of her wearing the ILY necklace, and after some research at the library, I sure did! Below are some pictures of Judy's ILY necklace with enhanced closeups of the "I Love You" hand, both on Earth and in space. It is a bit blurry, but there is no question that she was wearing something that meant a lot to her- a love for the deaf. How come no one ever knew about this?!
click for full-size version
2 Comments:
great blog about newton as well as resnik. it's really wonderful that on every birthday. what's next? perhaps a great da vinci's tomb? it's nice that his tomb isn't even in a prominent place.
What a great idea for a birthday.
I have no idea how I stumbled accross this site, but I am glad I did.
You should update.
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