Over the Blue and Green

One very hot summer, I accompanied a group visiting the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During this time, we sat down with two retired astronauts who told us about their experiences in space. One astronaut, when asked how his perspective on life has changed since being in space, recalled seeing the Earth as an inherently peaceful place, like this beautiful blue and green thing, which he now felt a stronger duty to protect. When asked to share her favorite memory during a mission, the other astronaut detailed a story about being ahead of schedule during a mission, and in the free time she was allowed, watching Earth from the windows of the spaceship. She recalled stretching out her arms, feeling like she was an angel watching over Earth.I’ve been imagining myself in these astronauts’ places, wondering what the world would be like if we all saw ourselves as guardians of Earth in this way. This piece explores the feeling of watching over our planet, cherishing its beauty—flying over the blue and green.