The Bedtime Story

I looked forward to bedtime because, right after it was announced, I would say “Tell me a story.” This always garnered Dad's rendition of “Tell Me A Story.”

“Tell me a story, tell me a story,

Tell me a story, remember what you said

Tell me about the birds and bees

And how do you make a chicken sneeze?

Tell me a story

And then I'll go to bed. “

Then I would get a story. Most nights, Dad or Mom would read the story; but on some nights, I would get a story Dad made up.

Always, always, always take the time to tell your young children bedtime stories – even if you're exhausted. One of them might be life-changing for your children, like one was for me when I was in first grade.

“Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack. He came home from school one day and went into his laboratory.” In the story, this boy made a great discovery that would completely change the space program – he discovered a rocket fuel that would allow the X-15 (my all-time favorite rocket plane) to take off under its own power and go all the way to orbit! Imagine that! NASA hadn't been able to do that, but I could! I knew I could accomplish anything, if a little boy named Jack could make such a great discovery.

Almost 50 years later, NASA still hasn't figured out how to achieve Single-Stage-To-Orbit.

And I still haven't figured out how to make a chicken sneeze.

Jack “Wernher von Braun” Parker