Letter #18: 1/19/21
Stories of A Lifetime Presents: “The Letters”
Community correspondence sparked from the isolating 2020 pandemic focused on easing the burden of loneliness.
Hello, my name is Holly. I am 41 years old and a single mom of a 10-year-old boy named Easton. His father passed away from cancer three years ago. I enjoy writing, I love history, and I like DIY home projects. I miss my grandma, and I know that if she were alive, she’d be so happy to receive a letter. It wouldn’t matter if the writing was profound or merely about what I ate for dinner, it would make her smile. So, my friend, I’d like to write some letters to you. It will help me feel useful and less lonely, and I hope the letters help you and that they spark you to reminisce about your own life, love, and good times.
January 19th, 2021
Dear Friend,
I recently took my son on a quick weekend getaway to Florida to enjoy some sunshine, warmth, and pool time. The sunshine felt wonderful, but the cooler temps prompted us to turn a pool day into an adventure day. We ended up renting a car and driving to the coast to the Kennedy Space Center. It was incredible! Have you ever been to the Kennedy Space Center?
One day at this NASA site was definitely not enough. We would immensely enjoy going back there again some time. On top of being educational, it was an awe-inspiring and patriotic experience, too. The word “EXPLORE” in giant letters welcomed us and I couldn’t help but feel amazed at what humans have accomplished and where we have gone with space exploration. Some times I find myself thinking that we humans aren’t always too bright, but being at the Kennedy Space Center was a brilliant reminder that great minds do exist and that there definitely are many bright people doing fascinating work.
My mom’s generation remembers the 1969 lunar landing and first man on the moon. Do you remember that? What was that experience like for you as you read about and watched man walk on the moon for the first time? I was in Kindergarten when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happened in 1986. I remember the teachers frantically bustling about as the news spread.
The day after our visit to the Kennedy Space Center a rocket launch was scheduled. Even though we were set to fly out that afternoon, we hurried back to the “Space Coast” as they call it to watch the launch from the beach. Despite the day being clear, sunny, and gorgeous, the launch was cancelled due to the “weather” and we were not able to witness a rocket launch in person. Maybe we will be back there again in the future because seeing and feeling that would be incredible. Have you ever seen a rocket launch into space?
What was great about our little getaway, as with other vacations, is the reminder that there is so much more out there than what we see every day. There are more people, more experiences, more places, and more adventures. I like knowing that there is more. I can get pretty wrapped up in my present, my struggles, the negativity of the daily grind…but then I can think of the Space Coast…and the brilliant people working to advance our space program…and it gives me the perspective, calm, and peace I need. What was one of your great adventures?
With love,
Holly
If you’d like to write back to me, you are very welcome to.
I will get a PO Box soon and let you know what that is. For now, maybe someone could help you scan and email your letters back to me at Holly@StoriesofALifetimeLLC.com. Otherwise, maybe you’ll find it helpful to just journal your thoughts and write them down without sending them. You do what is helpful to you, friend.
Conversation Starters:
Have you ever been to the Kennedy Space Center? Do you remember when man first walked on the moon in 1969? What was that experience like for you as you read about and watched man walk on the moon for the first time? Have you ever seen a rocket launch into space? What was one of your great adventures?