The Day We Saw the Moon (A Memory)

Mom never missed a space launch

                                                   

My mom loved a good space launch, and I don't think she ever missed a one.  It was an exciting time during the 60's, with NASA moving full throttle towards the ultimate goal, to put a man on the moon.  I still see her in our living room, seated on the edge of the couch, leaning forward, eyes glued to that little black and white screen. From the countdown to the firing of the boosters and then the liftoff, her focus was on one thing only: that ship and those manning it.   

It was July 20, 1969.  We were traveling back home to New York after a few days of vacationing in Ohio. Still a good 30 minutes or so from home, my dad pulled the car into my Aunt Mary's and Uncle Glade's driveway, all seven of us hurriedly piling out, and plopping down in front of their television set just in time to see Neil Armstrong descend that ladder and plant his feet on the moon. The picture from outer space was more grainy than clear, nothing like this had ever been broadcast before. It was the moon after all. But over 600 million people around the world were watching, the largest television audience up to that time. It was one of the most significant moments of the 20th century, and still to this day I am grateful that my parents made sure we didn't miss it. 

This morning, fifty-two years to the day later, history was made once again. A crew of four civilians were  launched into space, initiating a space program for tourists. Mom would have loved it, sitting on the edge of her seat, watching the launch all these decades later in high definition. As for me, I thought it would be cool to see a bit of history. But mostly, it was just another way to remember her.