I remember thinking my dad was a giant marshmallow every time he walked through the gate after another journey through space. I was to young to comprehend the white bubbly suit with the fishbowl helmet he wore, but what I did understand was the gold locket he kept in his pocket. one side held a picture of me, the other, my mother. He told me he wanted to be sure he had his Angels close by while he was floating around the heavens.
It seemed fitting that my husband graduated the space camp in Huntsville and met my father after winning a “once in a lifetime time experience”, at least that’s how they advertised it back then.
Riley travelled to the Silicon Valley to train in the vertical motion simulator, one of NASA’s top aides, so realistic, it was held in a ten story building. It was quite a prize. My father just so happened to be the instructor. It wasn’t long until dad pulled out his trinket and showed him my picture. He bragged on his daughter so much that the two of us met. We became involved, married and now that little plastic contraption has two red lines on it. We’re expecting!
I didn’t care too much for social calls. I was a bit of a loner. So, when Riley’s first flight to the moon came around my fourth month of pregnancy, I was alright with that. My mother went to all my doctors appointments with me and took notes.
I sat alone by the water’s edge and watched the sun go down as I did most nights. I daydreamed about what it was like up there. Mom called me right before I went back in house. “Honey, Riley has a surprise for you. Look at the sky.” As if I weren’t already.
The atmosphere was a mix of a gorgeous blue and pink. The darker color began to fade.
“What do you see?” She asked. “The sky is a calm pink.” I replied.
“The doctor secretly told me what sex your baby is. Your dad radioed it up to Riley. He seeded the clouds from space causing the sky to become a perfect pink. He wanted to give you the best gender reveal ever!”
We both squealed hysterically. “Now, take pictures. We have a heck of a story to tell your daughter!”
Leesa Writes 