Landing on the Moon
Thu., July 16, 12:38 PM
This morning, the local newspaper’s “Today in History” noted that, in 1969, the governor had issued a proclamation to pray for the Apollo 11 astronauts, because this flight was as important as any voyage in history. It reminded me of my own story, which I probably told before.
I looked at my entries from five years ago, but there was nothing. But one of the best things about Movable Type is that you can do searches within your own journal. For some reason, I wrote it two years ago — here. It still amuses me, including the fact that my other daughter is the one who is an amateur astronomer.
I am remembering the first time I even thought about travel to the moon. I was nine or ten, I guess. I had subscribed to the summer version of My Weekly Reader. Along with the usual news stories, the summer version included a serialized account of a trip to the moon. We are talking late 1940’s, you understand. Even science fiction was a leap for kids at that point. Wonderful story — the travelers (no word for astronauts yet) found artifacts in a cave. In the penultimate installment, they found a footprint. I was so excited. And then, in the last issue, the space travelers had to leave, because they were running out of supplies. What a bummer!
I’m telling you this so that you understand — I had been waiting twenty years for men to land on the moon. Forty years later, I am still so proud of them.
I should tell you that Husband is doing much better since he went into the hospital on Monday. I am getting used to this, as much as one can get used to it. He resists the oxygen, his carbon dioxide level rises, and he gets sleepy. They force oxygen into his system, and, lo and behold, he gets better.
The doctor asked whether he could use a bipap at home. Absolutely not; I will not accept it. I could not get him to use nebulizers or inhalers without a fight, and they think I could put a mask on him and make him use it for an hour? They are asking too much of an old woman, and I refuse.
I will let you know how it goes. Thank you all for your kind wishes. I can’t begin to express how helpful the support is.
