Whether we crossed the land bridge from Asia or sailed on boats, we are all the descendants of explorers. All of our ancestors were people who wanted to know what was over the next hill, or the next mile of ocean, and hoped they would find something good. I hope to see my fellow Americans act, and lead the way again, on the next great explorations.
Watched the landing on a guy’s tiny portable Sony TV, 2” screen, in Little Yosemite Valley, and looked up with a beautiful sky full of Milky Way. A little strange (tech) but a very memorable moment. My brother worked on the assent engine design, I was amazed they got off the moon.
Great read and I, too, recall the wonder and majesty of that “touchdown.” My mother recalls as a very young girl how amazing it was when Everest was finally crested. This achievement blew everyone’s mind!…
Tim, I was a little bit older than you being 18 in 1969, and living in Chicago. I was 12 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was in high school when we had the ‘Long, hot summers’ of civil rights rioting. I saw the Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy assassinations on TV. I lived through the transitions of ‘greasers’ to ‘hippies’, the drugs of ‘beatniks’ to the psychedelic ‘trips’, the Beatles from Rock and Roll to the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. I saw all the protests, the anti-war, anti-youth, anti-‘over 30’, and equal rights. I went to Vietnam.
We managed to end the 1960s when this Nation led the world by having man successfully walk on the moon. The stuff dreams are made of. The accomplishment that should be built upon.
Back then I thought we’d be on our way past the ignorance of segregation, racism and bigotry by now. Instead, under tRump we seem to have gone back to the 1960s. The comparisons so close. We need to grow, not regress. Once was enough.
Good job, Tim. I was born in 51, so i was at the perfect age to follow every step into space. We had one TV in school. My teacher sent me to the auditorium to watch and take notes on one of the missions.
My dad was born in 1898 and could remember the adults discussing Kitty Hawk. He lived to see men walk on the moon (and beyond). I was older than Tim, in college, when Apollo 11 was launched. But we still were glued to the TV. Thank you for the summation.
Aside: Our wedding anniversary is July 20. We used astronaut stamps on our wedding invitations. Still have some of those.
guyjen2004 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Excellent!
Lyman Elliott Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Wonderfully done Mr. Campbell.
Ontman almost 5 years ago
Touching remembrance.
Mominexile Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Very nicely done. Much as I remember from my childhood, but told so much more eloquently.
Monchoxyz almost 5 years ago
Still waiting for what’s next.
buckyteeth almost 5 years ago
Why did you send mail to Battle Creek?
piobaire almost 5 years ago
Thank you, Mr. Campbell! Well done!
Whether we crossed the land bridge from Asia or sailed on boats, we are all the descendants of explorers. All of our ancestors were people who wanted to know what was over the next hill, or the next mile of ocean, and hoped they would find something good. I hope to see my fellow Americans act, and lead the way again, on the next great explorations.
hench almost 5 years ago
Wonderful set of memories. I was older but I floated around the family room as I watched the grainy landing and the footstep. Well done, Tim
Zev over 4 years ago
For that moment, we felt as both a very small and a very big part of the universe.
pamela welch Premium Member over 4 years ago
Nicely done Tim!
Dtroutma over 4 years ago
Watched the landing on a guy’s tiny portable Sony TV, 2” screen, in Little Yosemite Valley, and looked up with a beautiful sky full of Milky Way. A little strange (tech) but a very memorable moment. My brother worked on the assent engine design, I was amazed they got off the moon.
TurbosDad over 4 years ago
Great read and I, too, recall the wonder and majesty of that “touchdown.” My mother recalls as a very young girl how amazing it was when Everest was finally crested. This achievement blew everyone’s mind!…
ncorgbl over 4 years ago
Tim, I was a little bit older than you being 18 in 1969, and living in Chicago. I was 12 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was in high school when we had the ‘Long, hot summers’ of civil rights rioting. I saw the Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy assassinations on TV. I lived through the transitions of ‘greasers’ to ‘hippies’, the drugs of ‘beatniks’ to the psychedelic ‘trips’, the Beatles from Rock and Roll to the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. I saw all the protests, the anti-war, anti-youth, anti-‘over 30’, and equal rights. I went to Vietnam.
We managed to end the 1960s when this Nation led the world by having man successfully walk on the moon. The stuff dreams are made of. The accomplishment that should be built upon.
Back then I thought we’d be on our way past the ignorance of segregation, racism and bigotry by now. Instead, under tRump we seem to have gone back to the 1960s. The comparisons so close. We need to grow, not regress. Once was enough.
Packratjohn Premium Member over 4 years ago
Good job, Tim. I was born in 51, so i was at the perfect age to follow every step into space. We had one TV in school. My teacher sent me to the auditorium to watch and take notes on one of the missions.
AnnDeeQ over 4 years ago
My dad was born in 1898 and could remember the adults discussing Kitty Hawk. He lived to see men walk on the moon (and beyond). I was older than Tim, in college, when Apollo 11 was launched. But we still were glued to the TV. Thank you for the summation.
Aside: Our wedding anniversary is July 20. We used astronaut stamps on our wedding invitations. Still have some of those.
Zebrastripes over 4 years ago
Back in the day it was all about the cereal, reading the back, the toy, the box tops just for a toy! Life was so simple then….aaaaaah….
ChristopherOwens over 4 years ago
You nailed it Mr. Campbell! Thanks for letting us view that time again, through the eyes of the kids that we were then! Well done!