My visit with the Mission Controller was a complete fluke. He was in town to address a group the next day. My neighbor was his local host. They were barbecuing dinner, and my neighbor came by and got me, thought I might be interested. There were only 4 of us, my neighbor, the mission controller, a friend of his and me. I was clearly out of the loop, a hanger-on. I just listened.

He described shuttle launches and flights, and dockings with Mir with which he'd been involved. He had been in Russian Mission Control when the shuttle was to dock with Mir, including the last docking where an antenna was potentially in the way.

It lasted until 1:00 AM, and ended. I was disappointed. I felt like a kid who gets to listen to someone who has really done something, not just filled time, or done what someone put in front of you.

Had to walk the 100 feet home.

Later, reflecting on the evening, I wondered what I had ever done with my life. I concluded that excitement for the sake of excitement isn't as satisfying as excitement on the way to a constructive good. Not nearly. If at all.