A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
It was Summer. Our days were filled with impromptu baseball games at the park, riding our bikes, reading comics, playing soldier, building and flying kites, trading baseball cards, marble and yo yo tournaments, consuming gallons of ice cold lemonaid, barbeques, camp outs in the back yard with our friends, building forts and tree houses, constructing contraptions we called "race cars", swimming, double hitter drive in movies wearing our pajamas, chocolate malts, hours at the drive in restaurants where there were carhops, music and you sat with all the windows rolled down while metal trays were afixed to the open window and side of the car teeming with cheeseburgers, french fries and frosty root beer floats, there were tales of Jack London, Mark Twain, the Hardy Boys, Robun Hood and his band of loyal merry men, King Arthur and his brave knights, Steve Canyon, Sky King, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon with his mighty steed Rex and his courageous dog Yukon King. We would crowd around the tv with our siblings and friends watching The Rat Patrol, 12 o'clock High, Combat, Gunsmoke, the Man From Uncle, The Virginian, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lassie, The Riflemen, Rawhide, 77 Sunset Strip, and Route 66. We coveted, fought and held rock paper scissors contests over hot cinnamon bears, Tootsie Pops, Flipsticks, Now and Thens, and Scooter Pies.
Many nights we would lay on our backs in the sweet grass and gaze at the stars. When I finally got a decent telescope for Christmas, I became obsessed with learning the constellations, certain stars, the planets and delighted in showing off my knowledge to my siblings, relatives and friends. Then there was the special evening, the evening none of us who were alive back then will ever forget.
Neighbors, friends and relatives came and gathered at various homes, children were for once silent in anticipation sitting on the living room floor, Moms had made all sorts of food to bring for a potluck and celebration. My Mom had made chocolate cupcakes with red, white and blue frosting on them and chili with pasta because my Dad had told her that Neil Armstrong was from Ohio.
In revered terms we spoke the names of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Our Dads had regaled us with stories of their backgrounds, their Military service, what it meant to be a test pilot and that these men were pioneers, they were heroes and that they were great Americans.
People were praying, holding hands, crossing their fingers, some were just holding their breath and some were clutching the little American flags that they had brought with them.
Finally the words....."The Eagle has landed."
In the shadow of the Eagle, appeared Neil Armstrong in his bulky white spacesuit, clamouring his way down the ladder. We could barely believe our eyes. We had done it. There were Americans on the surface of the moon. They planted our flag there. The President spoke to them.
Shortly after, Edwin Aldrin followed him. They seemed so happy, almost giddy. At times they just skipped and jumped around the surface like delighted small boys on an enormous adventure of great discovery.
It was if all time had stopped. Like nothing else in the entire world matter at that moment. People jumped to their feet and clapped, they yelled, they cheered, they hugged one another and they cried. My little brother had run out back to look through my telescope and was convinced that he could see the astronauts. Of course he couldn't, but we were still all breathless with excitement. The men poured drinks, toasted the astronauts and toasted our country. They wished them Godspeed home and a safe arrival.
When Neil Armstrong descended the steps of the ladder of the Eagle and he said: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," it sent chills through everyone. It meant that a plethora of unknown possibilities and opportunities awaited everyone. Every person on the planet could and would be benefited somehow by all the new discoveries, scientific experiments and inventions that would embrace every future adventure and exploration into space. It made us excited. It gave everyone hope. It made us proud.
They had landed on the Sea of Tranquility. I've always thought that was a magical, inspiring and beautiful name.
This week marks the 47th anniversary of the first walk on the moon and the Apollo 11 mission.
President Nixon aboard the USS Hornet waiting for the Apollo crew to arrive.
The astronauts on board the USS Hornet
Mission Control after the landing
Many nights we would lay on our backs in the sweet grass and gaze at the stars. When I finally got a decent telescope for Christmas, I became obsessed with learning the constellations, certain stars, the planets and delighted in showing off my knowledge to my siblings, relatives and friends. Then there was the special evening, the evening none of us who were alive back then will ever forget.
Neighbors, friends and relatives came and gathered at various homes, children were for once silent in anticipation sitting on the living room floor, Moms had made all sorts of food to bring for a potluck and celebration. My Mom had made chocolate cupcakes with red, white and blue frosting on them and chili with pasta because my Dad had told her that Neil Armstrong was from Ohio.
In revered terms we spoke the names of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Our Dads had regaled us with stories of their backgrounds, their Military service, what it meant to be a test pilot and that these men were pioneers, they were heroes and that they were great Americans.
People were praying, holding hands, crossing their fingers, some were just holding their breath and some were clutching the little American flags that they had brought with them.
Finally the words....."The Eagle has landed."
In the shadow of the Eagle, appeared Neil Armstrong in his bulky white spacesuit, clamouring his way down the ladder. We could barely believe our eyes. We had done it. There were Americans on the surface of the moon. They planted our flag there. The President spoke to them.
Shortly after, Edwin Aldrin followed him. They seemed so happy, almost giddy. At times they just skipped and jumped around the surface like delighted small boys on an enormous adventure of great discovery.
It was if all time had stopped. Like nothing else in the entire world matter at that moment. People jumped to their feet and clapped, they yelled, they cheered, they hugged one another and they cried. My little brother had run out back to look through my telescope and was convinced that he could see the astronauts. Of course he couldn't, but we were still all breathless with excitement. The men poured drinks, toasted the astronauts and toasted our country. They wished them Godspeed home and a safe arrival.
When Neil Armstrong descended the steps of the ladder of the Eagle and he said: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," it sent chills through everyone. It meant that a plethora of unknown possibilities and opportunities awaited everyone. Every person on the planet could and would be benefited somehow by all the new discoveries, scientific experiments and inventions that would embrace every future adventure and exploration into space. It made us excited. It gave everyone hope. It made us proud.
They had landed on the Sea of Tranquility. I've always thought that was a magical, inspiring and beautiful name.
This week marks the 47th anniversary of the first walk on the moon and the Apollo 11 mission.
President Nixon aboard the USS Hornet waiting for the Apollo crew to arrive.
The astronauts on board the USS Hornet
Mission Control after the landing
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