Meet an astronaut - or 50

Next week the international Association of Space Explorers opens its 21st Planetary Congress at Seattle's Sheraton Hotel - followed by a public event at the Museum of Flight. Some 70 astronauts and cosmonauts from 16 countries are expected to attend the meeting, which includes multiple public events and runs through Sept. 19.

My first career choice was to be an astronaut. One of my most prized possessions is The Kids Whole Future Catalog. That 1982 book was my bible. It outlines a number of different technologies and scenarios about the future. From housing, to food, longevity research, floating cities, robotics, space-travel, underwater exploration and living, and colonization. I knew everything there was to know about the future from this great book. (And yes, I still have it.) There's actually a movement out there to update and republish it. Wow, that would be something to read!

My intention to travel to space was further fueled by Robert Heinlein books and science classes. I was a sophomore in high school when the Challenger exploded. It was a very traumatic day for me. And it made me think about my willingness to die for my career. I'm a fickle girl, I guess. I got interested in marine biology. My thinking was that maybe we shouldn't be exploring space before exploring Earth's own oceans, which we knew so little of that it was essentially another planet anyway. Heinlein then died just as I was graduating from high school.

When I was a freshman at UW, planning to major in oceanography, I tried diving. It didn't go so well. I was born scared of the water (according to my mother) and they told me I would need private lessons and a lot of counseling to be able to overcome the instinct to surface I was battling.

Lucky for you, I then decided to study business instead!! And here I am, 20 years later, having worked in real estate and related industries for 17+ years.

Just because it was not for me, doesn't mean space travel isn't for you - or your children who are beginning to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. So you better read Space explorers conference lands here next week. Now's your chance to take your kids so they can ask those burning questions they (or you) have always wanted to know the answer to. Click here for the schedule. The morning and afternoon sessions at the UW are open to the public, with ample seating, and are free. The Monday afternoon session at the Museum of Flight is free with Museum admission. Technical Sessions at Microsoft will be web cast, with on site seating by invitation only.

You just might see me in the audience, with my hand up, asking them if any of them ever did like astronaut ice cream.