20:00 – Brandon jerked awake in bed, dutifully opening his lids in response to the clanging alarm. Message received: one hour before going on duty. No snooze button, no music, nobody nagging him to get up – accountable for his own actions. Long ago in college, after slumbering through a crucial exam, Brandon made a pledge to never oversleep again. Employing an old-fashioned windup clock (instead of a battery powered model – batteries having the bad habit of dying just when they are needed the most), he placed it atop a shelf on the opposite side of the room. To quiet the din, it is necessary to get out of bed, cross the room, and shut off the alarm. The premise: if you’re awake enough to handle that task, you’re darn good and awake. “Time to make the doughnuts,” he muttered, with a yawn.<\/p>\n
Throwing on a few clothes, he stepped out of the room. His first stop was the head, followed by a side trip to the galley, grabbing a cup of hot coffee and sipping it on the way back to the room to check his email inbox in private. Having already read the message from his son, he replied,<\/p>\n
From: Brandon Devlin
\nSubject: Pride
\nDate: Sagittarius 25, 0031 20:28
\nTo: Richard Devlin<\/p>\n
(CLT): 0.90 sec<\/p>\n
Dear Son,<\/p>\n
You have already made me as proud as a father can be. It’s still hard to wrap my brain around the thought of you attending university classes. It seems like I only graduated a few years ago, myself (rather than decades).<\/p>\n
Your mother and I firmly believe that having you, as our son has been the most rewarding experience of our lives. Don’t ever forget that. And yes, I do understand about you wanting to stand on your own two feet. That’s another thing about you that fills me with pride. Some kids would rather take the easy way and ride on the coattails of their parents. But, your ethics and drive set you a breed apart from the norm, and you have the potential to lead the first manned mission to Io, Europa, or Triton, or places not yet even discovered. Between us guys, I know I’m not always around for much face-to-face time with you, but all your mom and I ask from you, is to always do your very best, complete your own work, never cheat, and always be ready to do a little extra when it is asked of you.<\/p>\n
I’ll let you in on a little secret. My grades weren’t always the greatest in a couple of my classes. But, when there was a chance to earn additional credit toward a higher grade, I went for it, and managed to keep a 3.86 GPA throughout my college years. Extra credit and a little hard work can make up for being an average student. LOL<\/p>\n
The only other thing we ask of you is to never do anything to make us less than proud. That’s about all there is to it. Be sure to keep in touch, especially with your mom. She’s gonna be especially lonely with both of us away right now. Call her when you can. Don’t try to ring me up, though. The charges would be astronomical! Ha, ha.<\/p>\n
I don’t say it enough, but I love you son.
\nA proud dad<\/p>\n
< ≡ ♂ ≡ ><\/p>\n
As a high school student, Brandon had been somewhat lazy. He barely graduated with the minimum required credits. He even joked about it saying that he wasn’t a dropout, but a ‘drop-in’. Occasionally, he would drop in to attend a class, if the mood hit him. In his senior year, Brandon developed an interest in space technology and became a member of the National Space Society, which advocated a space faring civilization in our lifetime. This was the spur Brandon needed to help him get his act together and he began reading everything he could get his hands on regarding the space program and space technology. That’s when he decided he had to be a part of it all, no matter what it took.<\/p>\n
There were several bad study habits to overcome, but his intelligence and ability to learn were not lacking. He hadn’t been a slow student, just an undisciplined one. Brandon set his mind to the task, becoming unstoppable as he began taking classes at the community college, in the evening after school. He considered trying to go for a GED, but he only had a few more months until graduation and had the minimum number of credits. Once his study habits were corrected and he had proven himself capable of getting through the basics at the community college level, it came down to proving himself to the university admissions board. He was able to transfer to Western Michigan University, eventually graduating with honors.<\/p>\n
From: Brandon Devlin
\nSubject: Hi
\nDate: Sagittarius 25, 0031 20:36
\nTo: Emma Devlin<\/p>\n
(CLT): 0.90 sec<\/p>\n
Hi M,<\/p>\n
I just got up, 8 p.m. (20:00 military time, as we use it on the ship), about to start my shift. Luck of the draw, I guess (being one of the first two having to try to sleep right after acquiring artificial gravity). I don’t think I slept more than three hours, too much excitement going on. After a couple of days, I’m sure things will settle down and we’ll fall into our routines.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, the movement of the ship isn’t as much of a factor as we thought it might be. Just like being on board the ISS, we really can’t feel it moving, but if we look out the window, there is either an Earthrise or Moonrise every minute. That’ll change too, the further away we get from Earth. Of course, the big difference between this and being on board the ISS is the artificial gravity. We didn’t feel the movement on the ISS because we weren’t touching the floor or anything.<\/p>\n
I have to say, you were right again, me and my big mouth. LOL I was the cause of today’s sleep deprivation, as I’m the one that came up with the bright idea to stuff those other four staterooms with supplies. But, such is the life of a spacecraft designer, eh? As Elton John sang, ‘It’s just my job five days a week.’ Ha, ha. Except, en route to Mars, it’s my job seven days a week… but, if you take a look at the date header, we’ve started using my version of the Martian calendar, so it’s now my job eight days a week.<\/p>\n
Well, I’m going to get a bite to eat before I start my shift. I’ll write more, later.<\/p>\n
Love from me to you,
\nBrandon
\nPS, missing you already. HOLLAND<\/p>\n
< ≡ ♂ ≡ >
\n<\/p>\n
Elton also wrote, ‘…It’s lonely out in space…’<\/p>\n
From: Jackie Miller
\nSubject: Lift off
\nDate: Sagittarius 25, 0031 20:31
\nTo: Michael Miller<\/p>\n
(CLT): 0.90 sec<\/p>\n
Mike, my love,<\/p>\n
Lift off was smooth as silk, though noisy. It’s now been just over 12 hours and my ears are still ringing. Carl and I had the first watch and we got off duty about an hour ago. While setting up the lab, I had a brainstorm – there was plenty of room, so why not have a special place for relaxing over a game of cards. Carl loved the idea and assisted in the creation. During free time, like now, we have an area with a table where we can cheat at cards, play rowdy board games, or even construct a jigsaw puzzle and work on personal projects.<\/p>\n
It’s hard to imagine we are going to be traveling through space for 6 months before setting foot on solid ground again (and that being on another planet). Then, after 18 months on the surface, it’s another 6-month trip back. The hardest part will be fighting off the boredom and working through missing you.<\/p>\n
I wish I could have smuggled you aboard in my luggage. I know we wouldn’t get bored, because you really know how to keep my attention, if you know what I mean. And it’s not like you’d be missed at work for a few days or so. (LOL) Oh well. I suppose I’ll just have to stare lustfully at your photos and rely on battery power. Sure hope I brought along rechargeable batteries. ; ) On that subject, you’ll find some racy pictures I slipped under the t-shirts in your top drawer. They might help you entertain yourself while I’m away. (ROFLMAO) Well, I’ve got a lot to tell you, but I’m not going to do it all at once. There will be a very long 2 _ years to relay what’s going on here. Perhaps these little notes might get transcribed into a book, someday (after a lot of ‘editing’, that is). So I’ll send more, very soon.<\/p>\n
Missing you so much and my love always,
\nJackie<\/p>\n
< ≡ ♂ ≡ ><\/p>\n
(Note from Dr. Willis to Commander Lewis: Miller appears to be showing signs of separation issues, already. I will watch for acting out with other crew.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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