February 1st, 2003 was just an ordinary day / night for the world. Getting out of bed or getting ready to go to bed depending upon what country you were in. For me, it was morning. I had just waken up from sleeping on my couch all night and decided to see what was on TV to watch before getting a shower and dressed for the day. By this time it was 7:45. I remember watching bits and pieces of morning news shows...etc. I finally come across CNN and there it said on the screen "Breaking News" and they showed a sky with a streaking flame falling..They said they were fearing it was the Space Shuttle Columbia breaking up during re-entry. THis time, it was about 8:10. I thought to myself "my God, help them!" I was in total shock and didn't know what else to say. I couldn't believe that two weeks ago, I saw this shuttle launch and now I'm also seeing it break-up on TV with my very eyes!!! Finally, CNN pronounced that yes, it was the Columbia shuttle about 8:30 after receiving reports from NASA of loss of communication. I didn't begin to cry because of such shock. My grieving for the families and the crew came later...After hearing about the accident, I immediately rushed to my compter and studied each individual astronaut. By each description I read, I felt like I knew them on a personal level, but since they were lost, I also felt like I knew them spiritually. From then on out, seeing tributes, hearing certain songs, and sometimes just thinking about the crew made me cry. It's amazing to find love for someone you never met.  I never thought that was possible until the accident. I love each and every one of them dearly!!! They've engraved footprints in my heart always and forever...