The Eagle Has Landed Without Me
Last night I went outside and spent awhile looking at the moon. I do that often and call it my late-night vespers. Last night I thought about the passing of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon–WALK ON THE MOON!!!!! How incredible that was! How newsworthy! Exciting! Dramatic! Earth-changing! Sadly, I have almost no recollection of it.
Here is why I don’t remember the time Americans spent landing on the moon, walking on the moon and making it back from the moon: I was busy doing really important things: My birthday was in two days and I was going to the L & M Steakhouse in Lakewood for dinner (Whoo-hoo! $6.00 for a great T-bone.) I was also busy getting ready to start my career the next month (August 15, 1969). Mostly I was busy living a small life in a small basement apartment at 2530 Krameria Street, in hippie-town Denver.
My mug shot for the DPD. Summer 1969. "Teased" hair! Oh my!
Last night I thought about life then and the comparative importance of the moon and the L&M Steakhouse. Dag Hammerskjold, in his great, introspective book, Markings (which I had read many times by 1969, so you’d think I would have been less self-absorbed), wrote about the young man on one of Columbus’s ships who was only worried he wouldn’t make it back in time to inherit his father-in-law’s cobbler shop. Same thing.
For most people, their own life and concerns are all that matter. There is a tremendous lesson in that when we are trying to teach them or reach them or just trying to figure out how to deal with them. They can appreciate the moon, but the L&M Steakhouse is more immediate. (I’m embarrassed to admit that was true then and often is true now.)
With many thanks to NASA and Neil Armstrong.
I want you to know you’re not alone. I was married on July 26, 1969 and was oblivious to anything except the last minute details of my wedding. Years later when I read about an anniversary of the walk on the Moon I was surprised to find out when it happened! Cute, cute picture of you BTW!
Comment by gingercat | August 27, 2012
I saw this link on Facebook and wondered what you meant by the title. Now I know. You looked so sweet and innocent then. What happened? 🙂
Comment by W.K. | August 27, 2012
I’ll be thinking about this post today… thank you.
Comment by John Mollison | August 28, 2012
I guess I can confess now that I wasn’t very aware of this either, until I studied more about it in college. I mentioned that to my mom at the time and she said everyone in the family was watching it on TV but I was more interested in dating! Oops. I guess I should remember that, when I get frustrated with my granddaughter who seems to be uninterested in everything in the world except her hair and clothes.
Comment by Seanetta D. | August 28, 2012
This ties in with the concept of living in the moment. Except, as you point out, you WERE living the moment that was important for you. Is this is case for the versatility you’re always teaching about? I liked this post and the glimpse of your life then. I think it would be good for officers and ranking officers to read about those times from your career.
Comment by Dave | September 1, 2012
This is my second time on your website. I remember the Moon landing very well, as it was the summer I turned 16, Drivers’ License, first sailboat adventure, etc. Now, others are thinking, but I must ask, “Is that a mug shot of you, high school yearbook photo, amusement park photo booth humor or what?”
Comment by Steve | September 19, 2012
Tina says: Hello Steve! You’re right, apparently people have wondered about the mug shot, so I just now gave it a caption. It was the first “mug shot” of me right before I joined the Denver Police Department. Very exciting! Thanks for asking!
Comment by TLR | September 19, 2012
Tina, my memory of the moon landing was a family trip. My siblings were be driven to the top of Mt. Evans in the family station wagon. Heard about it as it was happening on KOA. I think overlooked by all today is the danger and great unknown the Apollo astronauts faced. I am humbled by their courage.
Comment by Michael | October 23, 2012