Raz's blog: "My Blog"

Worlds Beyond Earth

March 25th, 2012

    When the news first came out that the earth was dying and had been dying for several decades it came as a shock. The biggest shock was the reason why the planet was dying and that the US government had perfected space travel in far more advanced ways that what they had led on with. The fear and riots that took place around the world was a sight to see those first few weeks and months afterward.

    Looking back on things I wonder how we all stayed sane. In the process of perfecting the technology they had accidentally come up with the very organism that was cooling our planet. They still refused to say how such an organism came about, even though many suspected alien technology, but in the panic that followed who had the time to honestly figure out the cause?

July 17th, 2012

    It's amazing how many nations can put aside their differences when mutual destruction is assured if you don't. With so many nations banding together to build the interstellar ships needed to lift us off the planet it makes one smile and wish we had done so without such an urgent need. I wonder if all the ships needed will be ready into to remove us from earth. The very core is now losing its warmth and cooling. Not for the thousandth time have I wondered about this organism. It hasn't harmed humans, animals or much else, but it seems to feed off the very heat from the sun and the earths core.

    There is something else I want to talk about that I truly don't know how to begin with. My neighbors have joined one of those odd cults and now refuse to leave the planet. They seem to think this is a test from God and that to leave earth is to lose favor with him. I gave up reasoning with them as I can see the fear in them at what is happening and the need to live in denial. I must confess there are times I envy them.

October 11th, 2012

    I quit my job today. People stopped wanting to buy books and considering the value of money seems to be going out the window, who was I kidding. The first of the interstellar ships was launched into space on test runs and few days ago and seem to have weathered them fine. I am still amazed at the size of these space ships. They can carry up to a million people each. There will be thousands of them made in the end. I suppose it is a good thing the value of money is next to useless.

    The weather has changed as well. It grows colder and snow falls anywhere now. I did see with some amazement how terraforming of the ships was being done and how many of the trees, plants and animals have been removed and relocated along with water and other essentials. I now look back on my dreams of being a writer with some humor. I should have gone into the sciences.

January 23rd, 2013

    The first people have been removed from the planet and are now orbiting the earth. Compromise is such an odd thing, but it has worked well in these times. People from each country are being removed an put upon each ship so that no one could be accused of favoritism. We've all been assigned dates and numbers of when we are going up. I'm proud to say I'm now NWE2345-54a and will be departing the planet in September. I wanted to call the Space Command to ask if I'd get frequent traveler miles, but I didn't think they'd appreciate my humor.

    There has been a run on marriages in the last few months. I heard from a friend of a friend that it is one way to insure you'll be with a few people you want to be with when your turn comes. I considered proposing to Marilla, as I always enjoyed her company, but the notion of having to share my quarters with her and her doll collection scared me off. I was use to being a solitary figure, so I imagine things can't be too bad.

March 25th, 2013

    There is a blizzard outside my window. No I'm not some place it should be snowing. I'm still in Mississippi. I think time is almost up for us all. I tried to convince my neighbors to come to their senses, but they all went into a rant about how God would protect them and bring about a new paradise. When I quipped, 'A paradise worthy of frosty the snow man,' they chased me off yelling and saying I'm a sinner. Maybe I am, but I won't be frozen like a popsicle.

    I watched my parents and most of my family leave slowly in the weeks before now. They seemed a bit miffed that I didn't raise hell to get to go with them, but I figured absence would make the heart grow fonder. I have to admit I do miss them, but they also left a lot of things they couldn't take with them. I've become a bit of a packrat.

June 5th, 2013

    I didn't realize how fun it would be to crosscountry ski or even build igloo's. Now I know and it's rather enjoyable. I passed my engineering exam as well and with flying colors. We would all need new jobs so instead of waiting to be assigned one I volunteered to begin learning a new skill several months before. I don't know how good I'll be once I get up there in space, but I don't think I'm any slouch. Speaking of slouch's I saw in the paper that Marilla married our former manager. He's like 60! I'm not jealous or mad, but I'm also a bit glad she's going up next month. Hearing her go on and on about how bigger the space is for married people makes me realize I might have been able to take more books with me if I had sold my soul.

    The first of the ships to set out in to the wilds of space have already made the jumps. It does make more since to set out in several directs than one mass collective, but I have taken to carrying around a few luck charms as I'd like to be with the group that finds a habitable planet quickly. I'm not up for any Battlestar Galactica type runs as we won't have an earth to go back to. No Cylons for me, thank you.

August 13th, 2013

    I've got my stuff packed and I'm ready to go. Most of the T.V. stations have gone off except for the televangelist ones. I've noticed that half of the televangelist have gone into spiritual retreat, which I took to mean they punched their ticket off the planet and don't won't the few fools to know they are gone. Andrea, the oldest daughter of my neighbors came to me the other day to beg me to help her get off the planet. I didn't think she'd come to her senses so it was with some relief that I'm helping her get her papers. The rest of them are too far gone and...well she is attractive, not that I'm thinking of ulterior motives. I do want to take more books and there is something about someone losing their faith that is attractive to a cynical person like myself.

    I saw off the last of my brothers the week before as they left to board the ISS Clinton. I told them to be thankful they didn't get assigned to ISS Bush and we cracked a few other jokes. I never was a good teller of jokes. I'll miss them, but life goes on. I've taken to hoarding gold and silver as I figure sooner or later value will be worked out in space and you can never go wrong with gold or silver. I really don't want to get married, but those bigger areas do tantalize the mind.

September 8, 2013

    Well I'm at the North American Command waiting on my ride up. Andrea is at my side and I'm proud to say I resisted marriage. I compromised on her taking some of my books in her load. Getting her away from her parents is an experience in itself, but I guess I can go into detail later once we're up in space. How they could still refuse to come with glaciers forming and moving so rapidly still leaves me speechless, but I've learned some religious things can make you believe you can do no wrong. I can't say I'll miss them and I can see in Andrea's sad eyes that she will.

    I'm not sure I like wearing a uniform at all. I know I'm now part of the force, but it feels so odd to be wearing the uniform of a member of it. On a good note I have gotten some positive looks from several of the women going up and Andrea did say I looked very handsome in it. Of course, I suspect she was just saying so to get me to shut up with my muttering about being in it. Oh well, I'll take flattery when I can get it.

September 20th, 2013

    We've been orbiting around the earth for the past two weeks and preparing for our jumps. I've become familiar with many areas of the ship and my responsibilities. I have to admit I love been up here. Looking upon the earth I can see the ice covering more and more of it. I suspect we will be here longer to try to rescue some of the nuts who initially refused to go thinking a new eden would come around or something. The last I heard of Mississippi was that it was covered in glaciers. I didn't tell Andrea, but I think she already knows that her family has gone. She clings to me when I'm around and to be honest I'm liking it. I know, I know, a cynical loner like me enjoying someone being clingy. I'm allowed to change.

    I've met a number of good people up here from all over earth that I enjoy interacting with. Ibrahim is the guy in charge of my detail and wow he can sometimes go on too much about cricket and how I should get into it, the man knows his stuff. Hilda is another person I enjoy being around, though her constant chatter about my sex life and Andrea can get maddening. I've met many other people and have come to appreciate being around other people far more than when I was on earth. I suppose being in an enclosed space for possibly years can make one easily be open to new ways and new things.

September 27th, 2013

    Today we make the first jump. I'm nervous and excited. I've made sure my books are secure, including my prized comics collection. Andrea has begun to talk more and I think I sold her on this being a new beginning and new chance for her at a happier life. I'm beginning to suspect she's finding her faith again as she has talked about going to one of the Baptist church sessions that take place. It's with some horror that I've come close to giving them a try as well. This jump will definitely bring me back to my senses.

    I don't know what is out there for us and what may come, but I know this is the greatest adventure ever. We are right out of science fiction and carry all the hopes and dreams of mankind. Mankinds will and strength to survive lies within us all and it is with bold determination that we will go forth and find a new home. I hope to continue writing and telling my story in the hope that future generations read my worlds and understand the mistakes we made and what we did to overcome them. It will be some time before I write again as we will all be busy on this journey, but I will come back to tell more. My story has not ended, and humanities story has not ended as well. This is but the beginning of the next step. A step beyond our planet in a search to find another world or worlds. We will not fail.