Tuesday, April 15, 2008
One of the Perks
I am usually not one to brag, but. . .I talked to an astronaut the other day. Yeah, a real-live-been-to-space-have-a-street-named-after-me astronaut. It was cool. It was exhilarating. It was humbling. It was affirming.
Weird reactions, I know. But let me try to explain.
Although I love my chosen path, I still feel a bit self-conscious when someone asks me what I do. Even if they pose the question in the politically correct fashion of, "Do you work outside the home?" Normally I just smile and quip, "Not at anything I get paid for!"
But, I know what they mean. We tend to define ourselves somewhat by our "job" and, well, we also tend to judge people by their career field - or lack there of.
Sometimes I just want to shout, "You know, I am smart! I have my college degree! I can speak in complete sentences that don't have to have rhyming words in them (but yet I can rhyme like a mad woman)! I am a contributing member of society! I CHOOSE THIS!"
Very few people make me feel this way anymore. I am pretty comfortable with myself. But I would not be honest if I did not say there are days that I envy my friends and family that have those cool jobs. They travel, they meet important people. Their role is easily seen and defined.
Most of what I do is "behind the scenes" type of stuff. In one particular organization I volunteer for I literally spend hours doing this type of work. My name is rarely signed on anything I produce, except for a group of letters received by a few very generous donors.
And this is where the astronaut comes in. I have been mailing him things for a couple of years, updating him on things the Foundation does in his honor. This spring the particular project spiked his interest. We provided the astronomy teacher at the high school with funding for a camera to be used on the telescope at the high school. This will allow them to take photos of space.
I was out of town for a few days and upon returning home found the astronaut's name and phone number to contact. Wow! Cool! Scary!
He was gracious when I returned his call. There was a reason this project spiked his interest (other than the obvious - space). His son will be journeying to the International Space Station this fall for a 10 day assignment. His job? Taking pictures in space! He would like to donate some of his son's photos to our science department. Wow! Cool! Exhilarating!
After our phone conversation I wanted so badly to call the teacher and tell him the news. But, this was not my job. I instead called the girl whose job it is to break the news and make the arrangements for such a donation. Humbling.
So instead I brag here - just for a moment. I spoke to a real-live astronaut!
Some days the benefits of this "job" rock!!!
simple faith
I am usually not one to brag, but. . .I talked to an astronaut the other day. Yeah, a real-live-been-to-space-have-a-street-named-after-me astronaut. It was cool. It was exhilarating. It was humbling. It was affirming.
Weird reactions, I know. But let me try to explain.
Although I love my chosen path, I still feel a bit self-conscious when someone asks me what I do. Even if they pose the question in the politically correct fashion of, "Do you work outside the home?" Normally I just smile and quip, "Not at anything I get paid for!"
But, I know what they mean. We tend to define ourselves somewhat by our "job" and, well, we also tend to judge people by their career field - or lack there of.
Sometimes I just want to shout, "You know, I am smart! I have my college degree! I can speak in complete sentences that don't have to have rhyming words in them (but yet I can rhyme like a mad woman)! I am a contributing member of society! I CHOOSE THIS!"
Very few people make me feel this way anymore. I am pretty comfortable with myself. But I would not be honest if I did not say there are days that I envy my friends and family that have those cool jobs. They travel, they meet important people. Their role is easily seen and defined.
Most of what I do is "behind the scenes" type of stuff. In one particular organization I volunteer for I literally spend hours doing this type of work. My name is rarely signed on anything I produce, except for a group of letters received by a few very generous donors.
And this is where the astronaut comes in. I have been mailing him things for a couple of years, updating him on things the Foundation does in his honor. This spring the particular project spiked his interest. We provided the astronomy teacher at the high school with funding for a camera to be used on the telescope at the high school. This will allow them to take photos of space.
I was out of town for a few days and upon returning home found the astronaut's name and phone number to contact. Wow! Cool! Scary!
He was gracious when I returned his call. There was a reason this project spiked his interest (other than the obvious - space). His son will be journeying to the International Space Station this fall for a 10 day assignment. His job? Taking pictures in space! He would like to donate some of his son's photos to our science department. Wow! Cool! Exhilarating!
After our phone conversation I wanted so badly to call the teacher and tell him the news. But, this was not my job. I instead called the girl whose job it is to break the news and make the arrangements for such a donation. Humbling.
So instead I brag here - just for a moment. I spoke to a real-live astronaut!
Some days the benefits of this "job" rock!!!
simple faith
Labels: Life
# posted by simple faith : 8:22 AM
