Mood: The escape velocity of the earth is 40,270 km/h. The Hennessy Venom GT is the fastest car in the world and has a top speed of 435 km/h. The X 15 is the fastest plane in the world and has a top speed of 7,200 km/h. My car rattles at 100km/h. At launch an astronaut experiences 3gs of force. The average human body can experience up to 5gs of force. John Stapp experienced 46.2 gs of force for a few seconds. There is no gravity in space.
You imagine that you will know that you’re there when you feel weightless. When your feet learn to linger again. When the air begins to smell like it used to and the laughter comes straight from your belly. You imagine you will know that you’re there when you hear your voice belch out unfettered, belch out unblemished, belch out because it can.
There, as a place to be, will come to you when your heart hears the music and your soul is in contact with your skin. When the nights are long and the food is healthy. When your shoulders are less saggy and your vision less blurry.
Your poems, less slurry.
You imagine that the air will smell of vanquished insecurity and the tress will breathe nothing but the tales of daydreaming wanderers.
That there – this place – exists.
It is this imagination that put the ship together.
Now, you strap in and entertain a stray thought – what if it doesn’t?”
The countdown begins.