To Me, It's Not About Being Anywhere,

It's Almost Comical That Astronauts Are Stereotyped As Daredevils And Cowboys. As A Rule, We're Highly Methodical And Detail-oriented. Our Passion Isn't For Thrills But For The Grindstone, And Pressing Our Noses To It.

Still, I Also Know That Most People, Including Me, Tend To Applaud The Wrong Things: The Showy, Dramatic Record-setting Sprint Rather Than The Years Of Dogged Preparation Or The Unwavering Grace Displayed During A String Of Losses. Applause, Then, Never Bore Much Relation To The Reality Of My Life As An Astronaut, Which Was Not All About, Or Even Mostly About, Flying Around In Space.

The Rough And Ready Improvisational Quality To Life On Board The International Space Station Is Reminiscent Of A Long Trip In A Sailboat: Privacy And Fresh Produce Are In Short Supply, Hygiene Is Basic, And A Fair Amount Of The Crew's Time Is Spent Just On Maintaining And Repairing The Craft.

Fatherhood Is The Unending Imperfect Task Of Turning Yourself Into Your Dad While Secretly Maintaining The Unbridled Elation Of Your Boyhood

Almost Everything Worthwhile Carries With It Some Sort Of Risk.