Dr. J was so generous to offer a guided tour of JPL and Eric and I took advantage of him – no, no, no – we took advantage of his OFFER!

Fortunately, Eric and I had agreed to meet at a Starbucks before the appointed hour. Not only did he get me on-line (not sure what I had done to prevent it) but we caravanned to JPL. Even though I lived about 4 miles away for many years, I wasn’t exactly sure how to get there and Eric mentioned that he did the yearly open house. I say it was fortunate because when we arrived at the gate, Eric said whatever it was he had to say and I pulled up and the guard took one look at Charlie on the passenger seat and told me I couldn’t go in. I asked if I covered him up (had a blanket on the seat), could I go in but the answer was still ‘no’. So, what would a damsel in distress do? Call Eric! He was just getting ready to park but he came back and picked me up at a parking lot about ¼ mile away, off government property.

We registered and got our badges and Dr. J came in and took us away. Even though Eric has been there many times, I have never seen anyone as excited as he was during the tour. I have to admit that it was pretty awesome seeing, in person, the space craft which had gone and come back and some prototypes. Even if Eric hadn’t been talking, I would have heard a noise because those wheels in his brain were really gearing up. As it turns out, one of the materials used gave Eric an idea of how to improve something he is already working on. I had become mesmerized by the shape and style of the tire spokes of a space vehicle – not sure why other than I wanted to know why they were shaped like that – did it serve any special purpose when the craft was dropped on the moon, or wherever? They were really unusual and that’s all I’m going to say – I don’t have to defend myself.

Dr. J informed us that his department, Cryogenics, had lost its funding that day or that week. Cryogenics: remember Ted Williams and freezing his head? (after he was dead)

The tour lasted about 90 minutes and we returned to the lobby to turn in our badges and ask people to take our pictures using Eric’s phone – amazing technology. Photo is in The Lounge forum.

We parted ways and I went back to my motor home which was parked at the Glendale Elks Lodge – with 30 amp power so that was good. HAD to go into the bar to register for 3 nights and the first drink for a visiting Elk is always free. (Even though I have stayed there about four other times.) Saw some familiar faces, got invited to a ‘Day at the Races’ fund-raiser the next evening and had a grand time. I took a quick nap because I still had another ‘meet and greet’ that evening – Kamala at IKEA!