What happens when a grasshopper decides to be an astronaut?

If you read my story you will find out!

Yesterday was terrible. Let's pretend it didn't happen. Instead let's find joy in these pictures of Ava. Apparently, if you tell her she has sweaty feet she makes these faces! Gotta love her! 

Also if you guys get some time, please visit the Facebook page called The Fly On The Wall. If you love history you will love this page. You learn something new everyday there!

Enjoy the pictures and stories everyone!

Week 2 (5-11 January 2015)

A Grasshopper on Mars

The day I was born the people of my lovely state of Florida launched off a rocket into space. I was born with stars in my eyes and all the possibilities the universe could hold were tumbling around in my thoughts. I don't know that my family intended on living so close to a space center but it happened nonetheless. I was reared on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center. No one else seemed to enjoy that but I felt like one lucky little grasshopper. I determined very early on that I was going to be the first grasshopper astronaut. Most of my bug family laughed at me but my mother, father brothers and sisters told me it was achievable. They would go with me to the space training grounds and we would watch the people train for the extreme limits of zero gravity and space travel.

One day, my mother hopped home with great excitement and pride with my sisters in tow. They bounced around me laughing and giggling, telling me they had a surprise for me.

“It's a lovely surprise!”

“It will make you look so handsome!”

“We worked so hard on it!”

“Oh what a joyous surprise I have for you son!” announced my mother as my sisters parted for her.

“What is it?” I chirped with glee.

“Close your eyes! Close them tight!” declared my sisters. I did as they said and could hear a rustle, “Don't you dare open those big eyes!” It seemed like my eyes were closed forever as giggles filled the air, “Okay astronaut brother, open!” To my delight, there in front of my eyes, was a real life astronaut suit.

“Oh my sweet family! How did you do this? Thank you my darlings! Thank you!” I could not believe my eyes. My mother and sisters had worked tirelessly to create a real suit for me to take to space. They had gone to watch how the human suits were made, they took snippets of materials to make me a real, working astronaut suit. My dream of becoming a space grasshopper was coming to fruition. I learned of an upcoming launch so I trained night and day to prepare for blast off. My brothers took me to a pond so I could get used to feeling weightless. My sisters made me grasshopper space food so I could eat like the human astronauts. Everything was in line and I was ready for my first mission.

The day of the launch came and my family wished me well. The human astronauts were going to Mars to take supplies. They had already been to Mars and a few astronauts had settled there temporarily so they could study the planet. I was excited and scared to see this new land. I snuck onto the space craft in the wee hours before dawn after I gave my family a tearful goodbye. It was astonishing to be on such an enormous ship! In a few hours I would be launching into space so I spent my time getting acquainted with the place I would call home for a few weeks. It was oddly peaceful before the bustle of launch preparations began. Eventually the rocket was loaded up with the human astronauts and everything was set. I nestled into my make shift holding spot and awaited the launch. I knew my whole grasshopper clan was waiting below and were anxious enough for me so I calmly took some breaths and made sure to brace myself.

The launch was incredible! Everyone inside was so calm and professional that I could not help but feel the same way myself. We successfully arrived in space and the sight was unlike anything I had ever seen! A Black abyss seemed to engulf everything surrounding our space ship. Earth looked like a gentle blue orb slowly but gracefully gliding through an unknown universe. I was at a loss of words. After some time we made our way to Mars. Mars was a rusty red color. There was not a single spot of what looked like life or any sign that anything could live there. It looked pock marked and generally uninhabitable. We buckled up and made our way to the red planet. We descended with as much grace as could be expected and successfully handed off supplies.

I am from a lush, green land with oceans for miles and humidity that could moisten a dry cloth. Mars was nothing like my home. It was dusty, rocky and seemed so dry. There was no life outside of the astronauts that were exploring the harsh terrain. It was so foreign to my home. I walked the terrain a bit then peeked around at what the humans were up to. They had all sorts of land roving vehicles, test stations, labs and a secure building to conduct all their studies in. We spent the night on Mars but the next day we refueled and headed back to Earth. Our take off was smooth and in no time we were back into the dark abyss. Watching Earth get closer and closer was mind blowing. Swirls of white, puffy clouds seemed to tickle the blue oceans that took over the round Earth. As we glided toward home and prepared for a fiery landing I couldn't help but think of my loving family that had helped me get to where I was.

We crashed home and spent time acclimating to Earth again. My family was nearby to greet me and I was so happy to see them. I had no company on my travels through space so I had been a little lonely. All my grasshopper clan cheered and chirped at my safe arrival. They had no way of knowing I was safe since they couldn't communicate with me but they did keep an eye on the news which said our trip was successful. I brought back heaps of Mars dust and told stories of what outer space was like. As everyone looked up to the sky they could not imagine how the the great blue that surrounded us could be surrounded by so much darkness. My world was forever changed after such an extraordinary trip to space. I was respected by all and called an astronaut by the other grasshoppers. My siblings even wanted to join my training and become grasshopper astronauts. I opened up an insect training facility near the Kennedy Space Center. On future trips I would have some company and friendship. What a blessed life I have as a space traveling grasshopper.