“Reach for the Stars.”

This simple line is the way Sally Ride ended her numerous lectures, presentations and talks.

Some of you will remember her famous “First Women in Space” launch with the “ride sally ride” music pounding in your ears. Some will not even know her name. And some of you will hate her because she was a lesbian. She was also a wife and mother. An engineer. A pioneer. An educator and author. A loving companion. In other words a wonderful person. A very private person despite her world-class presence.

I don’t normally have difficulty finding the right words to express myself, but here I have run into a roadblock. A combination of sadness, shock, loss and anger are hard to explain. So I won’t try. Instead I recommend that you read the article (1)  linked below. I think you will find what you need there to come to some sort of closure. Especially important is the statement from Sally’s sister, Bear. Here is an excerpt:

"Sally lived her life to the fullest with boundless energy, curiosity, intelligence, passion, joy, and love. Her integrity was absolute; her spirit was immeasurable; her approach to life was fearless. Sally died the same way she lived: without fear. Sally's signature statement was 'Reach for the Stars.' Surely she did this, and she blazed a trail for all the rest of us.

What more could anyone ask?

1. http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/24/12933519-why-sally-ride-waited-until-her-death-to-tell-the-world-she-was-gay?lite
Image: http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2012623/reg_1024.sally.cm.72312_copy.jpg