Challenged

 Holy Toledo, it's freaking cold outside! Okay, it's winter and there is no need for whining. Suffice it to say when I took the dogs out to pee this morning, it was -12 degrees F and my nose hairs immediately froze. Both dogs looks pathetic and only potties were to be had. Quite surprisingly, the wife announced that Rosita can poop in the house today. Of course, that means Rosita will NOT poop in the house today as she does the opposite of our requests. 

This morning, I'm supposed to be grading 90 discussion entries for the college class I'm teaching on-line but find myself intrigued by the Challenger shuttle disaster of 1986. So, instead of giggling at the philosophy of 19-year-old students, I am perusing the Internet about the Challenger, with this distraction brought to you by Netflix. It's the wife's fault we watched (well, I watched and she slept through) the Challenger limited series on the streaming service. It was her turn to pick something to watch, so Challenger it was. I owed her big time, after picking "American Ultra" the night before (which I found quite amusing but she HATED). She slept through much of the Challenger series but woke up for the final episode. 

For the record, the wife went to bed 30 minutes into American Ultra. She didn't even do her usual sleep-in-her-chair-I'm-watching-no-you-are-not-approach--she went to bed. She couldn't even sleep through the movie in person because she found it that bad.

The Challenger. I had no idea. In fact, I was very startled at how much I didn't know and/or remember. I found the series quite intriguing. Now, there was nothing new in the show, I am sure. Back in 1986, I just wasn't paying close attention or I lost interest or I was too busy playing softball. I remember the actual event quite clearly. I can tell you where I was and who I was with when it transpired. I remember that it was startling. I remember watching the explosion over and over. But, after the shock, I returned to being a pathetic human being, more engrossed by what to have for dinner than what happened with that exploded shuttle.

I found myself saying, "I had no idea" many times during the time spent watching the series. Hence, I find myself on the Internet this morning, looking at photos and reading articles. (Duty to warn: If you decide to do this, be careful on what you click. There are lots of suspicious, naughty links to be had and there are lots of probably-quite-false articles. Know your sources, watch your links!) 

It never occurred to me that the astronauts didn't die instantly from the explosion. I probably heard that on the news 30+ years ago, but it didn't sink in or even get in. I'm confused by this, because I am intrigued by all things aviation. Somehow, I don't think it every occurred to me that the space shuttle itself didn't blow up. I figured it was immediate toast for all on board, nary a scrap of astronaut left to be found. I would be completely embarrassed by this, but find myself somewhat relieved that the wife recalls little of anything, either. I remember the whole "O-ring" thing and the cold weather and what the plume of fire looked like and who was on the Challenger... but....

I need to know more so I've been busy this morning. 

(More and more, I find myself agreeing youth is wasted on the young. I bow find myself actually learning things, paying attention, embracing information. I'm quite intrigued by this thing called history. I lived it--now, I learn about it. Oh, youth. How dare you have fun.)

It's quite the rabbit hole. First, the articles. Then, the photos... the science... more photos... then, insights and wondering. Due to the fake links and fake articles, it's taken more time than I imagined it would. To see photos of the space shuttle in tact, to know that the astronauts were alive, to know "they" were found, that they weren't found for months, that their remains are co-mingled in Arlington Cemetery... quite sobering on this cold Sunday morning. I keep shaking my head, saying aloud, "How did I not know this? Did I know this? How could I forget this?" 

The rabbit hole has found me researching the Columbia crash, too (that I DO remember quite vividly, so there is hope for me), which led me to thinking about other major moments in my life of which I probably glossed over. I am inspired to do some historical reading. I need a few good books to read right now. 

It's time I give history its respect. 

Thankfully, I have been brought back to earth (pun intended) and will now get those discussion posts graded. They will be quite humorous and very much representative of today's youth in full glory. I will have many laughs, for many reasons. There will be on-purpose funny entries and not-on-purpose funny entries--both of which will earn guffaws from me. I truly enjoy reading and commenting on every single post. But, being a "last of the Boomers," teaching the "end of Millenials/beginning of Z Gen," it's hard not to sound old and crusty and dated. (To put things into perspective: most of these students do not remember 9/11 and some weren't even born at the time the Towers came crashing down.) I can implore them to pay attention, to learn more, to study this or that, but really? I would have laughed at a professor who said that and I certainly wouldn't have believed them. There is a reason I got such a piss-poor grades in Art History and History of Western Civilization. I had no respect of the subject or of professor wisdom. As the teacher, I know that I'm better off posting funny memes and asking for witty banter and hoping for a few tidbits of information sneaking into a few brains. 

Maybe in three decades, these students will find themselves looking back, saying "I had no idea." I hope they will find themselves wondering about their time in history and then take the time to learn about it. I assume they will look back at the pandemic and the political fodder and have thoughts or insights or... well, something. I hope they too will pay respect to [insert historical topic, person, whatnot here]. 

I hope they never forget the things of which need not be forgotten.

It's my turn to pick the next movie/show/series on a streaming service. Bet a few more documentaries end up in my queue. Don't worry. I'll stick pick sophomoric dribble, too... 

...it'll just be interrupted with bouts of history... 

...viewed with a nod of appreciation to my art history and Western Civilization professors...

...approached with respect for what transpired...

...remembered so not to be forgotten. 

Maybe letting the wife pick the movies/series/shows isn't such a bad idea, after all.
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