My first certain memory in life is from this weekend in 1969. It was my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary, a very intense time for someone who was barely 3. A huge celebration, as you can imagine. As the weekend went on, I remember my parents and grand parents in my grandparents charming living room arranged on chairs and a couch. I sat on the floor in front of them and we all watched as Mankind first set foot on another world. I was oblivious to what magnitude of what I was watching. But it must have made an impression.
I would religiously watch other flights and landings in later years, growing ever more enthused with each mission. I have to say that I never 'got' what the big deal was in the sense of how impossible they really all were to my parent's generation. Rockets were real, and of course they worked! They made me and my peers all want to be astronauts. Nothing was cooler!
40 years later, and I have struggled for over a day to come up with a theme for this post. In the end, there is only one thing to say, and that is "Thanks". Thanks to all the men and women who put us on the moon. To the ones who created the technology, who built the machines, and those who made the voyages, I say Thank You. You have could not have hoped to make a better nor stronger impression.
I hope someone out there has the Right Stuff to lead our country to make even bigger steps to inspire children for generations more.
T
9 comments:
Great guest post! I don't remember as much about the space missions but maybe it is more fascinating to boys than girls.
Thanks, Darling, for a great guest post.
To Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins, we say "thank you"!
Yes, thank you to the trio for inspiring future generations. Hopefully we can come up with something at least half as awe-inspiring!
My husband always tries to get my boys interested in the space program. It's important for this techie generation to understand that space exploration IS a big deal. Sometimes I'm afraid that kids today aren't impressed by much because they are exposed to so many high tech games and computers already. You're so right that we have to keep reminding our kids that these heroic men and women in the space program deserve our respect and admiration. Great guest post!
I was only just two so don't have memories but have been told so much. Mind you being married to a space nerd helps too.
Oh and dinner on Wednesday? Great - we eat about 7pm :)
What a great post! I agree with SM Kelly. I wonder if this next generation will appreciate the way we do. So much technology so fast it's easy to take it for granted.
I linked here from Kim's site where I have seen a number of your posts (the mom's or dad's?).
This was a good post. I was 10 during that time, so I remember it quite well.
This was a good statement you made: "I hope someone out there has the Right Stuff to lead our country to make even bigger steps to inspire children for generations more." Our country faces some big challenges in several categories (politically, economically, morally), so yes, we do need someone with the Right Stuff. Strong leadership in the home, as it looks like you and your wife are providing in yours, and Cheryl and I have tried to provide in ours, is part of the essential Right Stuff.
Good post.
Warren (Family Fountain)
That is so cool that you have a memory of this!!! I was alive but have no memory of it at all!!
Great guest post!
Great post! I wish people understood that the money we put into NASA comes back to us muti-fold in the form of technology. There is NO OTHER government agency that does that. Not to mention the inspiration. Waiting for the next generation to follow thru.... Mars?
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