The memories are now getting
hazy for me. We all knew it was coming, but I was not prepared. I don't think he
was either, but the cancer must have entered his brain fairly quickly so he
became unable to think clearly and we never had "a talk" about what was going to
happen after he died.
And after he died, and after a massive funeral where I
think there were hundreds of people attending, I didn't know how to act or how
to talk about it. How to explain it. Was I mourning sufficiently? I just felt
hollow for months. Dad did not get his cancer diagnosis until I think February
or March 1986. Earlier, on January 28 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was
destroyed in an explosion and all aboard were killed. Dad was the one who told
me about it as he knew how I was obsessed with space & science. I was devastated.
I was (and am still) a huge fan of Jean-Michel
Jarre and his album "Rendez-Vous" was released in April 1986. The final track,
"Last Rendez-Vous: Ron's Piece," was co-composed with astronaut and saxophonist
Ron McNair, intended to be the first piece of music recorded live in space.
Tragically, McNair was killed in the Challenger space shuttle disaster in
January 1986 shortly before the album's release.
I was listening to it a lot
while dad was sick. I still tear up when I listen to it.
--Len.
