W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics Talk: Getting to K$^{+ }\to \pi ^{+ }\nu\bar\nu$

The second stage of the E787 rare kaon decay experiment is described: how the lessons of the first round were incorporated in the upgraded beam and detector, what was discovered and what new lessons were learned. The miraculous birth, brief fluorescence, premature death, and imminent afterlife of E949 is recounted.