19/09/2021
In the summer of 1969, I was 10 yrs old. I watched Neil Armstrong & decided I was going to the moon. Me & the neighbor kids even tried to build a plane. Later I found out I wasn’t smart enough. In 1986 my hopes were renewed & I was determined to be the 1st Travel Agent to go to space and the moon. That hope was crushed in seconds. In 1994 I had my 1st Grandson. We watched Wallace & Gromits together and ever since I’ve had wild adventures with my grandkids about going to the Moon to eat some cheese. Then Moon and the Universe became a way showing how much I loved somebody. Them NASA stopped the shuttle and people seemed to lose interest, Not me though! Im the Spring of 2013 I was living and working on the big island. By the time I got off work everyone of my friends on the big island were sleeping. So I would stay late and watch the astronauts start their day on the Space Station. Although Im married I had a secret crush on Cmdr. Chris Hadfield. Everytime the Space Station would fly over the Big Island I would gather my grandsons and watch with excitement. As soon as we spotted it we would jump up and down and wave and shout Hello Cmdr Chris we love you!!
In April or May of 2013 I moved back to LA to deal with Skin Cancer. Not long after I was back I got so excited because Cmdr. Chris was on a book press tour and was going to be just the next town over. I got a buttload of books for my Grandsons and frickin forgot about me. In May of 2014, I got laid off and had to move back to Texas. I moved to a little town called Bastrop just east of Austin so I guess we are neighbors! On November 5, 2014 I was supposed to drive to San Antonio for my birthday to see my other two grandkids and family members. My hubby was still working in Hawaii. A freak Thunderstorm happened and the road was flooding. I was so bummed but Hey, I guess it was fate because by shear coincidence Cmdr Chris was on another book tour in Downtown Austin! Whoo Hoo!! So I headed to Austin, listened to the talk, bought more books for the grand kids and this time I got one for me. I said, it’s my 56th Birthday so can u write Happy Birthday. All of the sudden he stood up and started singing Happy Birthday to me and the whole crowd joined in. I think that was the last Birthday I enjoyed! Lol.
In the Spring of 2016, I did a Go Fund Me to raise money to go to SXSW. I think that is where I first heard about Space X. So 2016, 2017 and finally 2018 I would stare at yalls exhibit and just drool.
In September of 2016 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (my grandfather had it) I was devastated. Slowly but surely the pain of this disease has taken over.
On Feb 7, 2020 marked another downfall, literally. I was working in the Hospitality Department for the City. I took a Nasty fall was told nothing was broken, went back to work, got Covid in early March, spent two days in the hospital, eventually went back to work then by the end of the 2nd Day I could not walk. As it turns out my Pelvis was fractured in two places. It was almost 6 weeks to the day from my fall. I couldn’t prove that I had not fallen a second time. Anyway, I was forced to resign my job which I loved. I’ve pretty much been stuck in my house since March of 2020, my Hubby is here now so he does all the errands etc. I’ve seen my Grandson, his wife and his two daughters once as he drove to Bastrop to show me his new Tesla! He took me for a ride and he punched it and I was in Hog Heaven!
The past few months/weeks I have watched all the launches etc. I cried with excitement with each one. I’ve really enjoyed watching your group on on the Dragon and by golly a little twinkle of hope came back in my eye! And yes I cried like a baby again.
So this is my note to you. If by chance there is another lottery or maybe you need a human Guinea pig perhaps. Here ya go.
1. I’ll be 63, Nov 5, 2021.
2. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother
3. I’ve always loved thrill rides but can no longer any of them.
4. I’m always in pain, I have two hip replacements and I’m ready to be pushed off a cliff somewhere.
5. The hubby and I have already pre-paid our cremations etc with strict instructions to spread us out on Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California.
6. I have lived an incredible life and have flown in just about as much as one can do on a budget. I’m missing a Blimp Ride and just missed out flying on the Concord. I jumped out of an airplane at 54. Flown in gliders, Helicopters and some really sweet Private Jets. I piloted the airplane my friends and I built for I think about 2 feet before it crashed! I flew in a Bi-Plane as a passenger and the pilot did all kinds of fun maneuvers.
7. I’m curious if I would hurt in Space. Sure would be nice to have a break for a few days!
Anyways as the hubby and I watched the Dragon splash down he turned to me and said, “Welp, honey I guess that’s one your not going to get to do!” While the tears rolled down my face I kinda gave him the look!
So, I thought for a second. Why can’t I go?? Space is a whole new frontier for regular people now right?? No one in the Dragon knew they would be going this time last year, right!
So I grabbed my phone and thought I’d write a letter to my new neighbor!
Rebecca Pentland
11-05-1958
[email protected]
If my number comes up and you have discovered that I no longer dwell on this planet perhaps you could take our ashes and spread them amongst the real moon stones!
