Space Goddess

 “Mrs. King, is it true you now frequently watch the Science Channel?”

“Yes,” I answer gazing into the eyes of the Arbiter of Suburban Women’s Guide to Appropriate Behavior.

“And you read msnbc.com’s Space News and Alan Boyle’s Cosmic Log on a regular basis?” she shook her head in disgust.

“I do! They are really interesting! You ought to check out the slide show, ‘Explore the wonders of Space’ on the msnbc.com Space site!” 

“Mrs. King, my question only needed a simple yes or no answer! Please control your enthusiasm!”

“Control my enthusiasm? Hello! Are you alive? Where have you been hiding? I used to be like you a long time ago (pre 12/5/06 when I was selected to become an Accredited Space Agent for Virgin Galactic!). Oh, I knew about Space: I had to recite the planets in order at school (so what is the final verdict on Pluto, by the way?); I watched the first moonwalk; I watched the Tom Hank’s narrated film about the cosmos at the Rose Space Center at the American Museum of Natural History; I’ve wished upon stars (several times and still do—star light, star bright, first star I see tonight!). Yes, I knew about Space.”

“And now,” I continued (I was on a roll now!),”we have an opportunity to experience Space! Thank you, Peter Diamondis (Zero G founder and X Prize creator), Burt Rutan, and Sir Richard Branson!”

I turned to face the Arbitor, “Life changed for me when I realized I could be part of a group of people that would help others experience Space! After only 2 short days at the Kennedy Space Center (training to be an ASA), I was hooked! My life has been forever altered (Is this what Stephen Covey means when he talks about paradigm shift?) and my horizons broadened.

I reached down and pulled up Exhibit A, an illustration comparing the size of Earth to other planets, stars, universes. “Do you see this little blip over here?” I asked shining my laser pointer to a small almost invisible speck. “That is Earth! And on that speck sits billions of humans, many struggling to survive.

There are some humans, believe it or not, who are consumed with whether Prada or Be & D are the handbag of the moment, whether to buy a Mia Bossi diaper bag or trade in their old, worn diamond solitaire for a splashier Michael Beaudry bling.

So whether malnourished and starving or suffocating on self-indulgence, don’t you think we’d all benefit from learning more about the vast universe which houses our speck of a planet? Who knows, it may help us create life saving opportunities for those ridden with diseases that are currently incurable and even give the self-consumed new trinkets to add to their stash! So from the ridiculous to the sublime, the visceral to the fanciful, we must turn our attention to Space! Today I know there is so much more to learn and more to experience. So, if you are asking me to rein in my enthusiasm for Space and return to the exploits of ‘Desperate Housewives’,  ’Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘How ’bout them Chiefs?’, I don’t think so! And besides, even the designers are getting in on the action! Aren’t you wearing one of Versace’s new space-goddess gowns?” 

After she  consulted with her committee, the Arbiter picked up her Coach bag, gathered her belongings, and walked towards the exit. “You’re hopeless!” she declared. “It’s Balenciaga! Guilty as charged!”