By now, all of you know that from time to time, I will write about things other than NY Rangers hockey. It can sometimes make me feel better about things...just to spit out a few thoughts on it. What you may not know is that currently I am going through some serious personal issues. The details are not important to you, nor should they be. I only mention it because I was reminded of how unimportant NHL stuff is compared to real life well before yesterdays sad events. The loss of Columbia tops off what has been a real mental test for me over the last few weeks.

Space travel seems so easy to those who were born during the last twenty years or so. For me, as child in the mid '60s, it was an impossible task somehow overcome by NASA. My dad woke us up to watch the men walking on the moon in '69, the year of miracles. Those of you my age or older know what I mean. Black and white TVs and landing on the moon.

Of course, over the years we had seen so many shuttle lift-offs and landings that it wasn't until the Challenger explosion that we remembered how miraculous space flight really is. But even after that most of us paid little or no attention to the details of each mission. I think we took them for granted. I know I did. I was consumed with who the next Ranger coach would be.....not some shuttle flight. Before yesterday I would not have even been able to give you a single name from the crew.

As to why this happened, I don't have the data or expertise to venture a real worthwhile opinion. Well..... except for this, as humans have experienced since the beginning of time, each trip into the unknown brings us knowledge. The price of that knowledge varies from trip to trip. Loss of life is nothing new to those who explore new worlds. Knowing in advance that loss of life is possible doesn't make it less painful when it happens, nor does it deter us from going the next time. These kinds of tragedies have occurred in the past and they will happen again. Despite our best efforts there is nothing that can be done about the unexpected.

I happen to personally know police officers from the Texas towns that are currently recovering debris because of the work I do. I'm not even thinking about calling any of them. And, I'm not sure I want to hear the stories they will be telling about recovering human remains. I still have trouble thinking about some of the first hand accounts of September 11th. I do know that they will perfom like the professionals that they are, and I salute them.

Naturally, I feel terrible for the families involved. Nothing I write here could possibly mean anything to them so I won't even try. Safe to say, you and I are better off sending our thoughts and prayers to them. As to the seven who have left us.....I hope you can feel the love and caring that is being expressed for you.....wherever you may be.

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