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So there you were, just a lonely lady astronaut. 

People don't understand just how hard it is.  You worked so hard, for so long.  People kept telling you that going up into space was a ridiculous dream- a childish dream, but you kept at it.  You kept at it because you wanted to see earth from above.  You wanted to be weightless.  You wanted to become an astronaut.  Against all odds, you did it.  You became an astronaut.  You went to the space station.  You saw the earth from the sky.   It was amazing.

Then you got back, and suddenly everything was so...flat.      

You have a very hard time dating because, well, you're an astronaut now.  It's hard to find a guy that isn't intimidated by your profession.  There really aren't too many jobs sexier and cooler than "astronaut".  When you first meet a guy, you try to avoid the topic of your profession.  You even tried lying about it a few times, but eventually, they always found out.  That one guy, the dog trainer, he stopped talking to you once he found out, claiming that "Ms. Rocket Scientist Alien Chaser" was too snobby to date a lowly earth-walking man.  It was humiliating.  Humiliating and infuriating.  The world does not treat male astronauts this way. 

You had all but given up on men.

Then, you met him.  You had heard the stories about him.  He was quite the ladies man, using his job title to his full advantage.  At first you didn't really like him- you found him a bit arrogant.  But he was so funny.  You didn't expect that from him.  Usually astronauts are so stiff and regimented- obsessed with science and protocol and proper diets, that sort of thing.  He wasn't like that.  He was goofy and fun.  He grew on you.  Finally, here was a guy who understood.  He understood everything that you had been through and sacrificed for NASA.  He had the same interests and dreams.  One time, the two of you went out for drinks and talked about what it felt like to be up there, looking down on all of your earthly troubles. Talking to him like that.... it brought you back.  Talking and laughing with this man could return you to the weightless freedom of space.  It was breathtaking.  You loved this man because he understood your perspective.  He had seen earth from the sky too. 

It had the makings of a great love story.

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Sooooo, then you got some pepper spray, and some adult diapers.

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It's a tale as old as time.

Comments

[k.p.]

a quality post.

really, adult diapers?

[the colonel]

Kate,
This is one of your best posts ever!!!
Way to go,
the colonel

[miriam]

Now I'm hearing Beauty and the Beast in my head. Damn you, diapered wacko. Not you, K!

[Leigh]

Priceless. Well done.

[Deb]

Her Job at Nasa was to operate the robotic arm on the shuttle. I picture her doing hours of training at that giant gumball machine in chuckie cheese with the mechanical arm that grabs the dolls or toy cars or whatever- no time for bathroom breaks there, either, by the way- so come prepared!

[miriam's hubby]

I thought she was married w/ 3 kids!

[Kathleen]

Good writers find can find the human voice in any person. You rock.