Sally Ride, the first woman from the west to go into space, died yesterday. And she came out in the obituary on her own website:
Sally Ride died peacefully on July 23rd, 2012 after a courageous 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Sally lived her life to the fullest, with boundless energy, curiosity, intelligence, passion, joy, and love. Her integrity was absolute; her spirit was immeasurable; her approach to life was fearless.So when I read this morning's Wall Street Journal I expected to at least see mention of Ms O'Shaughnessy--but the WSJ didn't play. Why?
[...]
In addition to Tam O’Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years, Sally is survived by her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear; her niece, Caitlin, and nephew, Whitney; her staff of 40 at Sally Ride Science; and many friends and colleagues around the country.
The New York Times did, just. Other major outlets--such as CNN--also mentioned O'Shaughnessy.
But I would like to have seen a major newspaper tell us about how Sally Ride first met her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy, when they were twelve [note, this website plays commercials with sound--use your mute button]. I would like to have read about why she felt she had to marry a man for a few years. Did she love him? Was it a marriage of convenience? Would she have been accepted as an astronaut if she hadn't married him and looked 'normal' for the media? Would she have married O'Shaughnessy if she could? I don't know the answer to any of those questions. I would like to.
I hope someone writes a book. I hope Ms O'Shaunessy is willing to talk to a biographer and tell some home truths. We need these stories--if only to understand just how much the world (or at least this part of it) has changed in the last decade.
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The best stories are often in front of us.
ReplyDeleteShe was one of my heroes. She will be missed greatly, and I, like you, hope someone does a kick ass biography.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should write it.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt someone already has a biography in the works. But, yeah, if I'd known, this is one I would love to have written.
ReplyDeleteShe and O’Shaughnessy wrote several books together - for children to be sure, but she co-wrote them. Wouldn't be suprised if O’Shaughnessy someday writes this story herself.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right. That would be the best solution.
DeleteI feel like a dolt that I didn't know this, but I didn't follow her career or know she'd written books with her partner. The only defense I'll give the WSJ is that they didn't list any survivors. Now I'll bet Bear has a story to tell! ;)
ReplyDeleteNot sure what freaks me out more: that she died at only 61 or that she was so close to me in age! Where does the damn time go?
Oh, I hear you. Life is precious. Use it, live it to the best of your ability. Living well is the point.
DeleteWow, Nicola I totally thought all of this when I read that she had passed. I read her obit on her Facebook page and immediately went and did a Google on Tam. And I followed down the same line of thought… was it a marriage of convenience? Was Tam in her life then?
ReplyDeleteShe was one of my heroes as well. That she died so young is really upsetting… And I wondered if flags flew at half-mast, and have they/will they for any other astronauts, and how do they determine who they do that for anyway…
That's a good question. I don't know the answer.
DeleteAround here flags were already half-staff for Colorado. So hard to tell.
ReplyDelete