The Sky ... and Beyond

Taken from a distance - flying over Baylor Scott & White Hospital

This morning a group of pilots, based in Round Rock and known as the Falcon Flight Formation Team, was set to do several flyovers of Temple, to honor Temple medical workers and other frontline employees in the city. They were scheduled to take off from the airport at 10:00 a.m.. The newspaper said that it would take 20 minutes to get up into the air and in formation, before heading toward the city.

The members of the team would be flying their own homebuilt planes, constructed from remade kits, in a variety of colors.

Since our house is near Temple's airport, the Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, I hoped to see the planes in formation, however I knew I was cutting my time short, as the streaming worship service that we were prepared to participate in was to start at 10:30.

I set up a lawn chair, and took two of my cameras outside, to see if I could get some pictures. I caught several groups of four, flying over our yard several times. I think they were not in full formation yet when I gave up and went inside for "church."

While I was busy looking up into the sky, Dan was closely following the trip of the Dragon crew capsule, which lifted off from Kennedy Space Center yesterday and docked with the International Space Station (ISS) today. This was the first manned space launch for a private company (SpaceX), and America's first launch from American soil, in an American rocket, in almost a decade. It was a fantastic launch, trip and docking ... making America proud!

Dan watches as the first astronaut, Bob Behnken, steps out of the capsule and into the ISS.

MVP

Since schools are closed for the remainder of the school year, students are missing out on so many end-of-year events. Hurt most by it are high school and college seniors, who will not have traditional graduation ceremonies. Most schools, however, are finding ways to celebrate these graduates.

Even elementary and junior high students are affected by the school closures, not getting to have their award ceremonies and other end-of-year events.

But kudos to the teachers and coaches who are finding unusual ways to recognize these deserving students. Tuesday evening, for instance, Clara was surprised by about ten coaches from her junior high school. They showed up in a caravan of several cars to honor Clara as the Defensive Most Valuable Player on her basketball team. The coaches lined the sidewalk in front of her house and cheered as she was awarded the certificate.

Yay Clara!!!

The easy way out would have been for the coaches to mail the certificates, but instead they are making the effort to honor these hard-working students by personal visits. Way to go, teachers and coaches!

This will be a memory-maker for Clara - a bright and happy moment in a rather dreary time in her life.

A Day in the Sunshine

I couldn't stand to stay indoors any longer!!! The sun was shining and I had to get out in it, so my camera and I took off, in the car, to enjoy the countryside. I was only out for about an hour, but it was so refreshing!

Here are a few pictures I took on my outing. I think I have a start on an album of Texas Ranch Gates.

Coronavirus (Covid 19) Update May 2: Retail Businesses Begin to Open

Governor Greg Abbott's most recent executive order allowed retailers to expand their operations, beginning yesterday. The retailers must limit the number of customers inside the store and maintain "social distancing." Wearing face masks is encouraged, but not required by law. Some businesses, however, are requiring their patrons to wear them.

Today's newspaper reports that customers did, indeed, come out and begin shopping and eating in restaurants once again. One Belton shop owner told how a patron handed her a handful of cash. "She just gave it to me. She said, 'Donald (Trump) gave me this money and I'm going to give some of it to you.' She was just giving me some of her stimulus check." And then the customer purchased some items, as well.

I love reading about the good that comes out in people during hard times. It always puts a smile on my face.