Late January, February bring back memories

We've enjoyed the nice weather this week, although we're looking forward to precipitation in any form if it comes. No, we're not praying for snow, especially, but we'll welcome it if it comes as predicted, since Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are desperately dry. The National Weather Service has been issuing "Red Flag" warnings when high winds and dry conditions create a perfect recipe for range fires.

Sunshine is welcome this time of year, especially for people struck with the midwinter blues.

But perhaps there's more to it than that, especially for Baby Boomers.

This week may bring up sad memories for anyone who's experienced a half-century or more.

Monday was the 46th anniversary of the Apollo fire that killed three astronauts training for what would be called the Apollo 1 mission. Killed were Edward H. White II, the first American to walk in space; Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, who survived the sinking of his Mercury capsule, and Roger B. Chaffee.

Tuesday was the 28th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, launched on too cold a day with faulty O-rings.

We remember hearing the launch on the radio, only to learn from the AP wire minutes later that the vehicle had blown up. The seven crewmembers were alive until their broken craft struck the waters of the Atlantic.

Saturday will be the 11th anniversary of the day the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas and Louisiana on its 28th mission. We remember hearing NPR reports of Columbia's preparations to land, only to step out of the shower to hear that contact with the shuttle had been lost.

Seven more astronauts, including Israel's first, heroically tried to regain control of their stricken spacecraft before they were claimed by the unforgiving nature of space flight.

Monday is the 55th anniversary of the "Day the Music Died," when a chartered Beechcraft Bonanza carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson crashed after a late-night takeoff from Mason City, Iowa, on its way to the next performance in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Holly chartered the plane after the heater on his tour bus failed; his bassist, Waylon Jennings, had to give up his seat on the plane, regretting the rest of his life his flippant last conversation with his boss.

Holly jokingly told Jennings, "I hope your ol' bus freezes up!" Jennings shot back facetiously, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes!"

On a more upbeat note, music-minded Baby Boomers may also recognize next Sunday, Feb. 9, as the 50th anniversary of the day they were among the 73 million people who tuned in to the Ed Sullivan show for the first American television performance of the Beatles.

So don't be surprised if you're feeling a little melancholy as January turns into February. This time of year, it seems, is a time when history is made.