50 years ago, the year I graduated from Lyman High School in Longwood, Florida, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to step foot on the moon. My dad was stationed in Orlando, and earlier in the week we stood out on our lawn in Casselberry and watched the glowing light from the rocket as it took off from Cape Kennedy (as the cape was then called). Days later, on July 20, like people all around the world, we sat around the TV and watched the landing. No one cared that day for televised baseball or movies or mysteries. Our entire focus was on the black and white, somewhat grainy pictures transmitted from the moon back to us on Earth.
Days before, the moon had been something to look up and see with a touch
of marvel, a bit of mystery. Now it felt much more scientific. A big rock-like entity to be explored. It had nothing to do with romance and love and everything to do with accomplishment an changed perceptions. It’s impossible to explain to someone who didn’t watch it that day the pride that filled all of us. Or the thrill. Or the fear that something would happen to keep our guys from coming home.
When I was teaching years later, I took classes to the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. Walking around and checking them while they interacted with the exhibits, I happened on a couple of boys watching a video on the moon landing. Standing behind them, once more my heart filled my throat and I blinked back tears at the sheer emotion of the unbelievable event. Then one of the boys turned to the other and said, “This is old. Let’s go check out the computers.” I couldn’t help it. I laughed. What was still an overwhelming moment for me (“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”) was just the first of many moon landings for them, most of which took place before they were born. The whole thing had lost its wonder, its magic for the newer generation. And there was no getting it back. New adventures took its place. It was old. Like I felt at that moment.
Change is inevitable. Now we carry computers in our purses that rival some of those uses by NASA in 1969. The boys I taught may now be wondering why their own kids don’t sit in awe when a new cell phone comes out or why they don’t stop to give thanks to Steve Jobs for his genius. Now they feel old, lol! Still, I can’t help but be happy that we are celebrating the moon shot and landing. It was indeed one of the greatest moments in the history of the world, and I still feel the pride I did back then.
Only a Good Man Will Do: Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!
Naval Maneuvers: When a woman requires an earth-shattering crush of pleasure to carry her away, she can’t do better than to call on the US Navy. Sorry, Marines!
Well said Dee. Incredible 50 years has passed since that momentous occasion. The whole world watched with awe and worry “they got there but will they get back?”
Now space exploration is almost ho hum.
I had to smile at your boys keen to move on to something more exciting, the black phones with silver coloured dials now feature in museums!
Thank you for this post Dee. I envy you for having been around for the Moon landings. I think it was an incredible, magical moment. For my great-grandfather, God rest his soul, that was the most fantastic thing he had ever seen.
Dee, Great post. it was an adventurous and incredible time in our history.
Thank you!