Last week was my best friend Nate's birthday and I had decided to treat him to an adventure worth telling. I didn't want to ruin the surprise so i came over unannounced and kidnapped him, so to speak. When I was planning the celebratory events it was imperative to keep in mind that he was still a bit shaken from the crash even though it had been two years. Going from being able to use his legs then suddenly not, really took a tole on his reality, which is understandable considering he's hindered by both his disability and his environment wherever he goes. With all that in mind his birthday was going to be a very special experience.
Being his best friend, I thought i would be able to convince his wife to allow me to use their van for the trek. Completely wheelchair accessible with a mechanical wheelchair lift in the side as well as wheelchair locks within the inside this would have made for smooth sailing.
However, she was using it at the time so we piled into my noticeably smaller Toyota Camry. This was less accessible because we had to separate him from his chair to get him into the car. This was something we had grown accustom to so there was no doubt that the chair would fit into my trunk, something that can cause a problem with some cars.*Accesability*
The day was already made for me when i saw his face once we pulled into our destination, The NASA Space Center.
The complex was huge as an understatement but luckily they were very accommodating and drove by NASA cart to where the magic happens, the control room.
Now, we may have been biased because we're total space nerds but when we took the deep breath that is the NASA control room with all it's giant screen showing the earth and obvious friction in the room as everyone worked towards a common goal there was no doubt we felt a part of something big. In this room history has been made time and time again! *Meaning*
Here was a place where physical abilities meant nothing, you don't need to be able to walk to command a mars rover! This is all done virtually even the launch itself is a sleugh of buttons, calculations and timing. I could practically hear the gears grinding in Nate's head.
After we spent some time in the control room they took us to change into our suits, this is the moment he realized what was really happening! No excitement was taken away by our inability to understand the suits themselves.
Although most body suits of the sort are simple there is a lot of steps to the space suit! We had to ask for help from one of the employees because we didn't even know where to start! *legibility* It was mores so difficult for Nate considering he had to do this all laying down. But suiting up is a very partner oriented activity there are many things to check over for each other, especially since the suit is our source of life out there! In the end I needed Nate's help just as much as he needed mine.
The moment had finally come, time to board the ship! We took an elevator to the top of the ship. Getting in was very difficult because the ship was on it's back and thus we were traversing on the walls. We had to have a couple men carry Nate into his seat so that he could strap in.
We weren't piloting sadly, so we took the seats behind the pilots, and the countdown began. Once the rockets started it was deafening! The entire structure was shaking and moving. The pull as we moved up forced our bodies backwards into the seats. This was a moment we would never forget! *sensory stimulation*
After we got into space we began to settle in. Now, the space ship is no doubt an instrument for travel and keeping the fine balance of environment for us to survive so it comes to no surprise that luxury is not really a huge thought when creating a ship.Each room and area on the ship had a specific purpose with particular instruments and gauges. *comfort* There was no doubt that despite the level of fun involved this was a place of work.
The hallways and rooms were cramped to say the least. When we slept it was in small single cots strapped to the wall. *crowding* At times it was stifling but with so much going on one was easily distracted. One can imagine how little privacy there is on board the ship. *Privacy* With so little space between everyone it's hard to find alone time. For the most part there aren't windows either so that makes everyone feel a bit more confined. However, when Nate and I took the time to stare into space and look at earth it was if nothing else existed. Even in the smallest window made space look as vast as it ever was.
The lack of gravity played huge role in Nates experience. Traversing the ship became so much easier for him. Using his arms he pulled himself from room to room with ease. Yet again we were in an environment where his disability was lessened. I think having no gravity was Nate's favorite part of the voyage!
The trip to the moon took three days and three hours so we had plenty of time to spend with the astronauts. *sociality* Each night at dinner Nate drilled them with every question he had ever had about space and space travel. Floating in air eating his liquid peas Nate was on top of the world. It was as if his disability was nonexistent. He didn't have to worry about chairs or if his wheelchair would fit under the table. No, here he felt just how he should, equal.
Finally the day had come to land on the moon. Even though this is the biggest moment of our lives so far I know the trip alone was worth it for Nate. It reminded him that nothing is impossible something i think he's been needing to understand since the wreck.
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