The Second Time Around

Part One

Looking ahead at the upcoming intersection the light was changing from green to yellow. In the split second that it took his minds eye to react he called out to the driver, “. Lets get going Harold”.

It was late and he was running behind on his schedule. The driver of the limousine stepped on the gas and entering the intersection of the busy street John already realized that the decision to “speed it up” might have been a mistake.

Thru the corner of his eye he could feel, if not yet see, the blurred movement of an object hurtling toward him. Thus on November 23, 1967, Harold Green the driver of the limousine carrying President Kennedy came to the street named Dealey Plaza.

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Part Two

Sitting at the flight controls of the giant ship I thought back over the many training flights I had made. I had begun 12 years ago as a second officer and working my way thru the ranks I had become a first officer and ultimately Payload specialist. Now years later this first voyage seemed a long anticipated event. Snapping out of my day dream I heard the first officer call out…”Captain, ready to fire booster engines”.

Gently he moved the controls back and the giant craft arched its way into the clouds as it had done before.

Full power I heard him call out and the first officer responded.

Then without even a glimmer of understanding captain Christa McAuliffe, felt before seeing, the strange sound of the explosion…

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Part Three

The majestic ship began her maiden voyage thru the channel and out into the sea. She was truly a magnificent vessel full of every modern convenience know to man in this year of our lord 1912. Captain Edward Smith immediately called out to the bridge….”. Lets take her to sea and see what she’s got”.  Aye Aye Captain came the response from the helmsman.

The giant ship’s engines came to life and the magnificent engines strained at every command to race into the sunset. This the most powerful and largest ship of it’s time and had a race with destiny.

The giant propellers soon had this glorious sailing vessel leaving the port of Portsmouth and heading out towards the Irish coast.

Then….. on to America to begin its glorious run as head of the Transatlantic fleet of ships.

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Part Four

“Ease her in slowly” called the Helmsman. The air was thick with the moisture of a lazy summer afternoon and the Commander was hoping to land well before the promised rainstorm made its away into the landing area of the airfield in Lakehurst New Jersey.

“Mid ships” called the helm as he struggled to hold the ship on its course. Like a graceful swan the giant air ship, the pride of Germany continued on its descent to the airfield below.

The ship was the finest of the Reich and would show the world that the New Germany would no longer suffer the indignity of being thought of as a third rate nation. The Commander began to remove ballast as the ship slowly began its descent on to the field. He could already see the band moving into place to welcome the giant air ship.

The passengers all lined the giant windows to view the festivities and their arrival in America.

The last thing helmsman Helmet Lau thought was……..how strange that the light has gotten so bright.

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Redux

To begin anew…

The bright light filled the heavens.

One by one, each of the members of the entourage, made their way down the path guided only by instinct.

The light got closer and closer beckoning them all towards it.

Yet there was no fear nor trepidation…only the calming sense that all would be well.

Each of the voyagers felt the urge to move forward into the welcome light and the destiny that had befallen them all. Perhaps, they thought…THIS TIME WOULD BE DIFFERENT

Together John Kennedy’s limousine driver Harold Green ;  Christa McAulliffe, Challenger space craft ; Titanic Captain Edward Smith and, along with Hidenburg Helmsman Harold Lau each fulfilled their journey together.