Saturday, January 28, 2006

Challenger and My Brother

Today is the 20th anniversary of the shuttle Challenger explosion. Most of us remember this as a tragedy for our nation, but for the Larkin family it holds more. My brother, Paul, was on assignment for the shuttle blastoff and was stationed directly in the stands in front of the families of the crew members. He was there as a member of the press representing the University of Colorado who had an alum on board.

You have seen my brothers work as a few of his pictures taken that day were circulated widely by AP and Reuters. The photo of the pieces of the shuttle spiraling downward were taken by my brother. He also took the initial photos of the family reactions which were published once. I have been told that the negatives of those particular photos were destroyed because my brother couldn't bare the thought of the families having to see their initial horror over and over again. You see, my brother was special in that way. He was caring and would go out of his way to make sure the people around him had what they needed ~ even at his own expense.

In 1998, Paul was murdered in Monterrey, California. As in all murders, there was absolutely no reason for this senseless act of rage. The loss of my brother in this manner changed my world and the way I view how murderers should be treated. My heart will never heal from this particular wound. He was my primary childhood playmate as we were raised in the Air Force.

When we held Paul's memorial service, we had a photo, that he had made of himself with his camera in hand, framed with an inscription that described my brother's life perfectly. "I am not born for one corner; the whole world is my native land."

and now that truly is the case......

Paul Larkin added kindness, beauty, and sensitivity to our world for too short a time, but what he added was the best of the best.

I love you Paul and you are oh so sorely missed. I miss my childhood playmate so much.

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