I had met Lora by chance some years ago in what I know now is by a twist of fate. Our encounter only was a brief passing, but however, it was a memorable one that has lasted in my mind for a long time.

In the short few hours that we did share, I found Lora to be brilliant and captivating lovely young women.

To the both of us, it seemed that we had some kind of wonderful connection that was simply meant to be. We both found ours selves sharing some of our most inner thoughts to each other in an unlikely way for strangers.

I still can remember the shy gentle way she expressed herself and the way she said; “I can’t believe I just told you that! I have never told anyone that before!” But in many ways I could believe it, for her words were the same as mine.

I enjoyed our brief encounter immensely as I know she did as well. As we both were ready to depart, we exchanged number with a promise to keep in contact, which we did at first. But as time went by we both fail to keep our promise.

To: Lora

In many ways I feel heart broken for not keeping my word to you and for that, I am truly sorry Lora. I alone must live with that for the rest of my life. But I will always have those brief few hours that we shared to hang onto and for that, I thank you Lora.

I will not say goodbye to you for I know that connection we share will never be broken no matter where we are.

To: Lora’s Mother.

There are no words I can express to you that will sustain you in your lost. I do hope you will take some comfort in the fact that Lora shined so bright in this world that her flame will forever be eternal to all that she has touched.

To: Those friends.

Please carry on in keeping Lora’s names forever more for as long as you can.
Thank you.

Sincerely

A Passing Friend

Not only did he lift off in an LM he knew nothing about (other than accidentally finding the “start” button), but he somehow plotted an *intercept* course with the CM. Yeah. Right.

Yeah, I felt the way they were able to swing hammers around those LM’s and not completely rip ‘em to shreds was a bit much. The bashing on the hatch window at the end was almost funny.

The real astronauts were totally no-BS – just being there was high-risk – they don’t take extra chances for dramatic effect.

1. The “Russian LM” could never have achieved a lunar orbit matching that of the Apollo command/service module without a long and painfully complex set of calculations and subsequent reprogramming of its main engine and thruster burn sequences. That strap-in-and-blast-off stuff looks good in a movie but it doens’t get you anywhere near your intended rendezvous point, which has to occur at the same height, speed and direction as the craft with which you are trying to dock.

2. Oh, yes, docking…well obviously the LM / CM docking would have been impossible (round peg – square hole) but I suppose a push-and-pray spacewalk with both craft depressurized and both doors open, might have worked. And perhaps the thrusters on the CM could have been used for a redo if the guy missed on the first try.

3. The Russian LM, if one existed, would undoubtedly have been designed similar to the Apollo LM. One of the hallmarks of the Apollo LM was its light weight. The walls of the craft were no thicker than than a few layers of aliminum foil – just enough to contain the 5 psi of pressure needed to sustain human life inside. The Russian LM in the movie looked like it was made from half-inch boiler plate, with massive rivets at the joints and seams. No way dude.

4. The motions of the astronauts and other objects inside the LM looked suspiciosuly like those under the influence of 1.0 G, not 0.18 G.

5. Real astronauts are very low on drama and very high on objective analysis. Lots of time spent taking care of technical housekeeping chores (bus B voltage reg looks good Houston; fuel cells are within spec and condensation on the cryo tanks is minimal). The guys with the right stuff don’t spend much time gazing out the windows and arguing like pre-teen siblings.

The only thing in “Falling Skies” which actually reminds me of Boston is the character “Pope”. He doesn’t have the accent, but he’s a typical Boston smart-ass. Up to and including knowing how to cook and make explosives with equal skill. At least the plot of “Falling Skies” is staying interesting, but they need to drop the cast and writers in the middle of Dot’ or Southie for a weekend to let ‘em see the error of their ways.