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denOn this day in 1969 I turned 8. It was a day of firsts.
My first Hot Wheels set.
My first sip of coffee
The first time Dad got up at the same time as I did
The first time I saw the inside of Mission Control. That was the first time the tv networks, all 4 of them, broadcast the boring details of what went into doing a moon launch. There were a lot of blokes in white shirts (I suppose they were white. Australia only had B&W telly then) just sitting around, making a beep noise when they stopped talking.
The first time men walked on the moon.
I always wondered how Michael Collins felt. A lot of people younger than me say "Who?" Collins was the other astronaut. He was the one who didn't land on the moon. He was left in the command module to orbit the moon, alone, while The Other Two got to do all the famous stuff. During that mission the CM passed behind the moon several times, to leave him totally isolated from everything. Dad explained that to me. I remember thinking Michael Collins Was The Lonliest Man In The Solar System.
The history books here say it all happened on July 20th. It didn't. It was the 20th in the US, but we are on the other side of the date line. It was the 21st here.
And so after watching that event on the telly I played with the Hot Wheels set. You have to set your priorities.
Today I got a nice 3 dial barometer/hygrometer/thermometer, and some undies. I think I'll go for a drive to Parkes and visit the old radio telescope.
Watch The Dish. It's a good movie.
But not as exciting as a new Hot Wheels set.
My first Hot Wheels set.
My first sip of coffee
The first time Dad got up at the same time as I did
The first time I saw the inside of Mission Control. That was the first time the tv networks, all 4 of them, broadcast the boring details of what went into doing a moon launch. There were a lot of blokes in white shirts (I suppose they were white. Australia only had B&W telly then) just sitting around, making a beep noise when they stopped talking.
The first time men walked on the moon.
I always wondered how Michael Collins felt. A lot of people younger than me say "Who?" Collins was the other astronaut. He was the one who didn't land on the moon. He was left in the command module to orbit the moon, alone, while The Other Two got to do all the famous stuff. During that mission the CM passed behind the moon several times, to leave him totally isolated from everything. Dad explained that to me. I remember thinking Michael Collins Was The Lonliest Man In The Solar System.
The history books here say it all happened on July 20th. It didn't. It was the 20th in the US, but we are on the other side of the date line. It was the 21st here.
And so after watching that event on the telly I played with the Hot Wheels set. You have to set your priorities.
Today I got a nice 3 dial barometer/hygrometer/thermometer, and some undies. I think I'll go for a drive to Parkes and visit the old radio telescope.
Watch The Dish. It's a good movie.
But not as exciting as a new Hot Wheels set.
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Coolness abounds.
Date: 20 Jul 2001 22:58 (UTC)My birthday present to you will be arriving a bit late, since I only just sent it today. ;) BTW - did you know you share a birthday with Baxil? Or almost-share, anyway. Close enough, I think.
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Date: 20 Jul 2001 23:00 (UTC)Oh, and...
Happy birthday all over again! *snuggles'n'fluffs*
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Date: 21 Jul 2001 03:22 (UTC)hmm, I wasn't even a twinkle in my father's eye at that time, Happy Birthday Batty..
Happy birthday batty!!!
Date: 21 Jul 2001 05:17 (UTC)Wow you know I knew about Michael Collins but I never though about him being the most alone. But I think its true, while they were on the moon, he was the furthest one man has ever been from other human being. 'Wyrd wonders how he could have stood "going all that way for nothing". While it would have been a let down to not get to walk on the moon, I still would have JUMPED at the chance to be on that mission. He was still one of the few people to actually orbit the moon. He also was the guy who had to get them all home again :P
However he also had a terrible responsibility if things went wrong. If Armstrong and Aldrin were stuck on the moon, he could do nothingto save them. In fact his orders were to return to Earth with or without them, alive or dead. Had the worst happened, then it truely would have sucked to have been him o.o
You are lucky to have witnessed such a historic moment. I still hope to see the first Mars landing though :)
My own childhood memories of space arn't so rosy though. When I was 10 I was witness to the Challenger accident as it happened live on TV. That was one of the worst days I can remember, I had always loved space and even had models of the space shuttle. But then burned into my mind and still here is that funny shaped cloud left on the TV screen where the shuttle and 7 people had once been.
Ha!
Date: 21 Jul 2001 08:58 (UTC)I despise the way we've broken up time. It really confuses the hell out of me some days. Most days.
Jinkies!
Date: 21 Jul 2001 18:32 (UTC)Happy Birthday Batty Den!
Your special batday's come again!
*screescreescreebuzzlebuzzeeeet!*
Many batty returns, and large mango bits:).