All of my family, except my oldest grandson, went to Houston for Christmas. (He had to stay home and work.) There were 17 of us at my oldest daughter's home.
One of my grandsons, who lives in a semi-rural area of Oklahoma, got a rocket for Christmas. Of course, he took it to Houston with him. It was decided to take the rocket to a large church parking lot and launch it. This parking lot is next to a very busy four-lane street. All 17 of us climbed in three vehicles and headed for the parking lot.
The weather was cold, cloudy and a light mist was falling. There was some assembly required with the rocket. We sat in our vehicles waiting for the rocket to be prepared for take-off. Finally, the big moment came. Everyone counted down from ten and the rocket was sent in to the sky. It went high, the parachute opened, and it floated back down to the parking lot; just like it was supposed to do. It was fun, but you must remember we are in the large city of Houston.
Shortly after the rocket returned to earth, we hear police sirens. As everyone tried to act normal (We are in a church parking lot with three cars, 17 people, and it's cold and rainy. What's not normal about that?), we watched the police car go on by to a a real emergency, I'm sure.
Then my son-in-law decides the rocket needs more power so that it will go higher. By this time, I'm thinking this does not sound like a good idea. But they put a larger whatever it is you use on the rocket. About the time we all start the count-down, another police car is coming, but this time with no sirens. We all start to act "normal" again. (It may have helped that the kids were on skate boards.) The police car went by. The count-down started. And the rocket was launched.
It went across the four-lane street and so high in the clouds we could not see it. And then it emerged from the clouds headed straight down to the street. I can honestly say I thought I was going to see a tragedy and my whole family would be thrown in jail for causing it. From that moment on, everything happened in slow motion.
About the time it looked like the rocket would fall all the way to the ground, the parachute popped open, a slight breeze caught it and the rocket slowly landed in the parking lot. My son-in-law and grandson hurriedly picked up all the pieces and parts that were scattered, we all jumped in the three vehicles and went to the house as quickly as possible.
At the house, there was much discussion about the rocket launch. The kids thought it was the greatest! The adults knew God was very good to us that day.
In case you need to know, rockets are not supposed to be launched in big cities. But our family now has a whole new meaning for the name "Houston Rockets".
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