21 Jul 2009

The Eagle Has Landed

That’s one small step for man; that’s one giant leap for mankind.
Neil Armstrong 21st July 1969



For those of you old enough, where were you when you first saw this piece of television footage?

My parents had bought a brand-new portable television - the height of sophistication - to watch the amazing sight of first moon landing by the three-man crew of Apollo 11. For some reason, although Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon at 12:56pm AEST on July 21, 1969, in my memory my brother and I were in our jarmies and dressing gowns, so maybe there was a fuller coverage of the landing in the evening. The fact that my Dad wasn't at work leads me to assume that that was in fact the case, although maybe people took the day off? The plan was that Dad and Mum were to watch the new tele and my brother and I were to stay in the family room watching the big one. Of course that pie in the sky optimism didn't eventuate. The little portable was big enough for us all.

The grainy picture didn't phase us one bit. The first moon langing will remain in my memory as one of the most amazing days of my youth. What about you? Do tell...

If you're not old enough, maybe you could tell instead what the significance of this day is for you. That would ensure that you don't feel left out - we are an all inclusive, non-ageist blog here at A Peaceful Day.

We're currently studying the moon in our astronomy course, Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright. I'd like to say the exemplary timing was deliberate planning on my part, but that would be fibbing, I'm afraid. Still, it is a perfect opportunity for us to spend some time today at as close to 12:56pm as possible talking about this amazing event in history. We'll be watching the video too.

4 comments:

  1. I was about 15mos. old and my mother sat all of us kids in front of the TV for the wonderful event - though I don't remember any of it.

    Truly, Jeanne, I do have a (hopefully sane) sense of pride for that moon landing. Oleg teases me about the space race (must still smart) but I consider everyone involved as heroes and cringe when I hear people say it was a hoax.

    I would love to know how you and Jemimah like the Jeannie Fulbright texts.

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  2. Hi Jeanne,
    I remember it well! My dad had all of the windows out of the house, as they were all French panes, and he was stripping and painting them. This was the middle of winter, mind you, so my mum, my brother and I snuggled up in Mum's bed and watched it on TV.

    The images were really grainy, but you could sort of see it.

    I remember it being absolutely freezing!
    Blessings,
    Jillian
    <><

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  3. Okay, yes, I'm old too! I remember it well. For some reason I was not at school but in town with dad and we watched in the electrical store's shop window. Some of my older sibs remember the day JFK was shot and other world events but this was probably the first biggy for me.

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