This weekend we headed to the California Science Center so we could check out the space shuttle Endeavor that’s been parked there since 2012. And it sure didn’t disappoint. Except for a few minutes of going around in circles because I couldn’t figure out where we could park that wasn’t closed off to some type of event, we found parking next door at the Natural History Museum – don’t tell anyone!
It’s $3 per person to enter the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center where the shuttle is housed. While you can’t enter to view the inside of the shuttle, there were interactive screens where you could view the sections as well as talk to volunteers who worked with kids to educate them about the shuttle with the help of a scale model where you could press buttons that lit up the corresponding sections. Lil Dude was curious and there was a bit of question-and-answer portion between them that was really cute.
Seeing the shuttle up close as well as learning about the brave men and women who risked their lives with each mission reminded me of the countless achievements the country has made toward learning about space. This project touched me in so many indirect ways with friends who worked for aerospace companies so many years ago, many of them proud to have been part of something big.
The King Tut exhibit is also going on at the museum but we only had time to go to this one. That’s one good thing about being local; we can return for the King Tut exhibit another time although I like getting my son prepared for the exhibit if he’s not into it (like the King Tut one). I’ve seen a similar King Tut exhibit when I was in Houston a few years ago.
In the meantime, the kid and his dad had a great time shopping for souvenirs the moment we walked in, from a hoodie that says NASA on it to a shuttle Endeavor toy and a 3D puzzle I had to assemble late into the night for the Lil Dude. And boy was he so happy!
On the writing front, not much going on there. It seems that book 2 of the Holiday Engagement is on hold. I don’t know why exactly although I suspect it’s called ‘holiday preparations.’ Getting the house ready for all the decorations is next so we’ll see what happens. You never know. I just might surprise myself and finish it and a few other stories in time for Christmas…
Liz Durano 