Jason, Em and I left Nashville just before 8 am, and headed south down i-65 to arrive at the NASA Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama around 10 am. He headed straight into the Davidson Education Building, and found seats in Graduation Hall. Graduation starts at 11, and the master of ceremonies introduces each crew as they enter. Ethan's Crew - TEAM LUNA , was introduced and proceeded towards the graduation stage, and that's when Ethan caught sight of Em, and myself, and then his dad!!! Who he had no idea would be there today. The smile on his face was fantastic. At todays assembly there were kids from all over the US, a few other international kids especially a large group who had come from China. Ethan as far as we know was the lone Canadian again this week. After the introduction of each crew. (Around 10 groups of 12) . We were addressed by 4 time orbited astronaut Dr. Don Thomas. Sometimes the visisting astronauts rotate weeks. Ethan was excited to see Dr. Thomas again, as he had worked with him last year as well. Dr. Thomas spoke to the graduates and he told them that it takes hard work to get to live your dream. He also told all the kids that they should never give up, and they should always try again. It took 4 interviews with NASA for him to be a part of the team. He himself was just a kid, when he saw Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. At that time, his friends laughed at him when he said he wanted to be an astronaut one day. Dr. Thomas said, never let someone tell you you can't. He is proof that you can. We were also visited by a senior executive from BOEING, who congratulated the new graduates and said that one of them may be that first astronaut to reach Mars. That these kids are the generation that will get there. He also spoke about the possibility for all these kids in the STEM jobs that are going to be needed to help make that happen. Listening to these gentlemen speak, I know Ethan will learn that his time here is special and that it will be just one of the pieces that will guide him to living his dreams. Then it was graduation at last!!! Each crew was introduced up to the stage where the members were introduced by name, and by their crew/shuttle mission position, and then handed their diploma. Ethan Richard - - SHUTTLE PILOT! As Ethan attended space camp this week, they acknowoledged that this week was also the 46th anniversary Apollo 11 mission. Mercury, Gemini, Saturn, Apollo.... missions that changed the way we look at our earth and beyond. Taking pictures at graduation is difficult, it is a large room. But here are some of the photos we captured of Ethan and some of his crew mates, and his Crew Trainer afterwards. Ethan and LUNA Crew Trainer - Chris Wade ( UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA) Ethan and his LUNA Crew mate and Bunk mate - Tim ( Atlanta, Ga) ( Ethan hasn't invested in a flight suit yet. He is scared he will outgrow it too quickly.) He wants to wait to get his, so he can sew all his mission patches on it at one time. Graduation is pretty special. I have a feeling we haven't seen our last one. He has a little sister who seems pretty interested in coming to try it, or perhaps Ethan would like to try something new here, like the robotics course or the aviation challenge next year. Who knows? Around 2:30 we pulled out of the NASA gate and headed up the highway. But we had one quick stop we wanted to make before we hit the interstate though. A tiny little town called Mooresville, AL. When I was here last year there was an article in Southern Living Magazine about this little town. http://www.mooresvilleal.com/ http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-central/mooresville-alabama I really wanted to stop in and see it. Wow, are we glad we did. We met the most warm and welcoming couple at Lyla's Little House. A sweet and tea shop. http://www.lylaslittlehouseal.com/ Lyla Peebles and her husband told us about their little town, and showed us the true meaning of southern hospitality. We really enjoyed our visit with them. We were very happy to visit her little store and purchase some of her her homemade ice cream, her macaroons, madelaines, and pralines. All delicious southen sweets. My ice cream was a lemon curd custard. Delightful!!!! Here are some pictures from Lyla's Little House There is Miss Lyla making us some ice cream to taste. Served in teal cups with paper straws. Sweet, Elegant, Southern Perfection! She was so excited that we came off the highway to see her, that she gifted us a Mooresville Walking Tour Book and some yummy southern cheese straws. We took our ice cream and treats and took a walk around the town as Miss Lyla instructed. Here are some of the beautiful southern architecture and historical buildings we found along our way. Mooresville, AL!!!!!! An idyllic southern town, and if I ever move south, it will be here.
We have made our way back through Alabama, Tennessee, and are settled into Bowling Green, Kentucky for the night. We will make our way home tomorrow after a few stops to see sights and have some fun. Good night y'all!
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