Writings in the Sand

Mars on my mind...

I’ve been thinking about Mars a lot lately. For a barren wasteland millions of miles away, it’s in the news quite often. I remember reading that when NASA advertised for volunteers to go to Mars, they were inundated with hundreds of thousands of applicants.

I don’t understand that. Sure, there are some qualified scientists who might sign up for a one-way trip to explore in the name of science - a sacrifice in the service of mankind. I can respect that, but I still don’t understand it. And what about the rest?

Most people wouldn’t want to leave those they love behind forever. No hope of return. To spend the rest of their lives far out in space. To travel an unimaginable distance to a lonely and inhospitable planet where they will die alone eventually - if not somewhere along the way.

So what makes someone feel so disconnected to their planetary home that they could easily leave it, never to return. Is it utter despair or reckless optimism? I suppose it could be a metaphor for desiring personal space.

Mars was on my mind.

"The Place In Between"