"Get up, Susie, get up! They're about to land on the moon! Come on honey!"
I had just turned four. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and raced downstairs. No need to tell me twice. I'd been waiting for this moment for weeks!
My dad worked for Rockwell International Space Division in Downey, California. Neil Armstrong was just one of the celebrities and heroes I was taught to appreciate, imitate, and aspire to be. Television, music and other "entertainers" were just that - entertainers. People who brought the dream of landing on the moon to reality, and Neil Armstrong with his first walk on the moon were the pioneers embracing the spirit of going beyond the ordinary for the greater good.
Were you awake? Do you remember the day, the morning, the weeks and months leading to the moment of this achievement? My dad was a different person during these times. He was a part of something so much bigger than anything he dreamed of as a young man. He was proud, felt honored to be a part of the industry and a citizen of the country who was behind this achievement. He never got wrapped up in the naysayers, the skeptics, those who even in this day still don't believe this really happened. They didn't matter - ever. He knew what he was witnessing was great. He shared this feeling with me; he shared these moments with us.
I miss those days. Days when the world was electric with awe and surprise, belief in the impossible. We don’t have enough of those one-nation-indivisible, all-encompassing moments that engage us as one people and dare us to believe we might be part of something so incredible. I think we’re hungry for truly positive, uplifting and relatable events that push our imaginations beyond what is possible through collaboration, hard work and determination. Such events are important for us. For me, they are my childhood, my connection to my dad, and my world of that time. Instilled in me is the belief that I can achieve anything, especially when it is to better the world or the lives of others, including my own children now. There is always a way. I'll be forever grateful that he always woke me up for the space events.
I think there is a marked difference between those who participated in the Space Era including the Space Shuttle launches, compared to the most current generations. Born into an age of iPods, personal computers and more gadgets than we know what to do with, we are increasingly growing inward, less likely or interested to look outside ourselves, band together and inspire some awe of our own. So I share this; feel free to once again be inspired:
Here is the landing on the moon with some helpful commentary:
The actual walk by Neil Armstrong:
I never had the pleasure to meet Neil Armstrong. I did meet Buzz Aldrin in Orange County a few times. My children wanted a moment by moment account of the meetings. They are seven and ten and being taught what true heroes and celebrities are, and are not. They are being taught to dream big and believe that, indeed, their dreams are possible even when no one else believes in them. I wish for my children what my dad dreamed for me; a life and career filled with amazement, unhampered excitement for what’s possible and the belief that they can be a part of something huge – something outside of themselves. Something that makes the world sit up and take notice again.
We have Mars today.
Is your life so busy you haven't taken the time to watch the footage? Is your life so full you haven't taken the time to share these events with your family, especially your children? I greatly urge you to take the time, give them a glimpse of the big dreams unfolding before us and of positive efforts affecting ripples of people for generations to come. What we take for granted today will be taught in schoolbooks in the future. Your grandchildren will marvel at the stories you’ll share of these days. Take advantage of a positive event to connect with them and perhaps you will inspire them to say yes to following big dreams.
I never had the pleasure to meet Neil Armstrong. I did meet Buzz Aldrin in Orange County a few times. My children wanted a moment by moment account of the meetings. They are seven and ten and being taught what true heroes and celebrities are, and are not. They are being taught to dream big and believe that, indeed, their dreams are possible even when no one else believes in them. I wish for my children what my dad dreamed for me; a life and career filled with amazement, unhampered excitement for what’s possible and the belief that they can be a part of something huge – something outside of themselves. Something that makes the world sit up and take notice again.
We have Mars today.
Is your life so busy you haven't taken the time to watch the footage? Is your life so full you haven't taken the time to share these events with your family, especially your children? I greatly urge you to take the time, give them a glimpse of the big dreams unfolding before us and of positive efforts affecting ripples of people for generations to come. What we take for granted today will be taught in schoolbooks in the future. Your grandchildren will marvel at the stories you’ll share of these days. Take advantage of a positive event to connect with them and perhaps you will inspire them to say yes to following big dreams.
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