When I first saw it I probably did what is called a “double-take.” It was an “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?” moment.

From my vehicle in passing it looked to be some sort of airplane. The part that really piqued my curiosity was that it was on top of a mobile home.

That’s right. An airplane on top of a mobile home in a mobile home park on River Road. Go figure.

A few years later a powerful “wind event” blew it away. (Don’t you just love it when the weather report announcers refer to a “rain event,” a “snow event,” any weather-related occurrence that seems or is a bit extreme, or more powerful than most of our weather patterns.) George Carlin, the comic/philosopher, remarked upon the on-air weather folks who talk about “events” making him want a ticket.

Back to my subject. I probably assumed that a storm had written finis to the mystery of the air-travel “thing” on top of the mobile home.

But wait! Not so. Either a new, or a re-built vehicle, once again appeared back on the roof of that same mobile home in that same mobile home park, on River Road.

This is when I realized that this must surely be the real deal. And could it … could it possibly be connected, in some way, with NASA? Perhaps an extension site of Cape Canaveral or Houston. I mean, who’s to say?

Yet, there seems to be no effort toward confidentiality. No signage warning people away. No barriers denying access, that I can see.

Then a thought came to me. An epiphany. I think I know what it is. It is a one man (or woman) space shuttle! Why didn’t I see this earlier? Yes, sir. It’s a part of our country’s space program. So obvious, and I didn’t see it.

You see, it will be attached to an aircraft capable of reaching heights that allow for the launching of vehicles intended for travel in space.

When you consider the significance of all this, and that it was constructed right here in a mobile home park on River Road, it makes you proud. An important piece of history-to-be in our nation’s space program … right here in own backyard, so to speak.

It is my real hope that making this public will not cause NASA a problem, that I won’t receive a communique from them saying, “Houston, YOU have a problem!”

Whenever it is employed, though, to whomever is aboard, my sentiments will be “Good luck, and Godspeed.”

These are exciting times, friends.

Indeed.