Space Shuttle Challenger - 18 Years Ago

It's been 18 years since we saw the space shuttle Challenger burst into flames during its liftoff January 28, 1986: I remember hearing about it from a classmate in high school, and thinking he was out of his mind. My dad later confirmed it as he picked me up from the library, where I'd walked after school.

• Last year's remarks in the 'Journey'
• Confusion, a poem I wrote January 28, 1986, the day after the disaster
• It's a bit ironic that this article about the ill-fated shuttle Columbia appeared in the news this time last year.