One of the things I've struggled with over the past 36 hours is trying to determine what is an appopriate reaction to a tragedy of the magnitude of what happened yesterday. How do I express my grief, and when is it appropriate to return to my normal mode of relating to the world? When is humor once again appropriate?
After 9.11, nothing else really seemed to matter for an extended period. Humor seemed horribly inappropriate, and the idea of writing about anything but terrorism seemed an utter waste of time and energy. I'm feeling much the same way now, but I also know that there is nothing that I can add to the public's knowledge about this. We can all pick up a newspaper, turn on the television, or go to the Internet for news. Anything I would add would simply be rehashing what is already out there. I'm not going to waste my time or yours by revisiting what is already available elsewhere.
From here on, most of my grieving will be done in private. If I feel that I have something to add, I will certainly do so, but I want to let NASA do what it needs to do to investigate the Columbia tragedy. I see no reason to begin second-guessing anyone or anything a mere 36 hours after the accident. NASA, and this community, needs time to get over the shock and begin the process of healing as well as figuring out the hows and whys. They will, and in time a shuttle will lift off again. I don't see how it could be any other way.
In the meantime, I'm going to try and get back to dealing with my world as I have before yesterday. I need to laugh again, and I think now is as good a time as any. There will be plenty of bad news to go around as the days and weeks go by, and there will be plenty of people willing to deliver it. I don't plan on being one of them.
