Where I was

When the Challenger blew up I was home sick, on the brown sofa next to the blue plaid chair in the living room of our first house in Chester. I was 12 years old and in the eighth grade. There was noone for me to call. I was just horrified. And sad. My mom was (is) a teacher, at that time in the next town over from Concord, and was almost exactly Christa McAuliffe's age. I can't believe it's been 20 years. I'm glad I'm not 12 anymore. I still think of the astronauts. My thoughts are with their families.