Anne's blog

(this intro is from the liner-notes to my CD Columbia: We Dare to Dream)

I didn’t know them.  I didn’t know their names, or that they had been in space for sixteen days, or that they were called the “STS-107” crew, or even what “STS” meant.  But I was sitting next to my piano on the morning of February 1st, 2003 when I heard the news… the awful news that the space shuttle Columbia had just broken apart upon reentry, 200,000 feet high in the skies over Texas, and that the entire crew had undoubtedly perished.  (more…)

(liner notes for track 1)

There must be a day, I imagine,
when a great ship is finally
born to the world…
a day unlike all the others.

The sound of horns is in the air,
calling all the people… (more…)

(liner notes for track 2)

Got to keep going
got to keep going
keep up the pace
what’s the next step to do
look at the checklist
look at the checklist
check it again
all must be perfect. (more…)

(liner notes for track 3)

They speak of it
reluctantly,
the astronauts of few who admit
to the sensations
and frustrations
of the first days
in weightlessness:
(more…)

(liner notes for track 4)

Born from humble roots in Karnal, India, Kalpana Chawla traveled one of the longest and hardest roads to become an American astronaut.  Though small in stature, she became hugely known the world over as “Kalpana” or “K.C.”, the Indian girl who against all odds wanted to become an aerospace engineer, the Indian girl who wanted to fly and explore and who persevered to make it happen.  (more…)

(liner notes for track 5)

They were coming home.

They were coming home to us,
where we were waiting
so proudly and assuredly.
(more…)

(liner notes for track 6)

He is the son
who puts his anger aside
and bravely chooses to wear a flight suit
just like his father wore.
She is the daughter
who helps her mother to cope
whenever they think of
the wedding ring
that was never found
in all the fields of Texas.
(more…)

(liner notes for track 7)

It’s been a year,
or two, or more it seems,
and you’re missing them,
again…
those heroes in your life
who are now gone from your life…
missing them, again,
especially one,
one who shined so brightly,
one who was so very close.
(more…)