I am writing this, in part, for the momentous historical event the moon landing was and my memories of it and in part, hopefully, to bring a smile.
I grew up with the space program. I followed every event of it as some now do football (my son). I think I was in third grade when Jown Glenn first orbitted the globe. I was in Cub Scouts and we had a little painting contest, which I handilly won. I was the only scout that could render the space capsule with dimension, flying high above the earth and surrounded by stars.
My folks signed me up for a science package that came in the mail. One of the books was on the Mercury seven which I devoured from cover to cover and reread it. Also in the package came some models, over the course of several months. So, I built the Mercury spacecraft and then went on the the Lunar Rover and I cannot remember what else. Oh wait. . .there was also the Whiley Post aircraft. It waas a diverse package but had quite a bit concerning the space program, which was about as exciting as a boy could get at the time.
When the Gemini fire took the lives of several astronauts, my heart sunk. These were true heros to me and I could not imagine just how horrible their last few minutes of life must have been.
So, finally, after many years, the day of the lunar landing approached. My friend, whom I will call "Larry" to protect his identity and I waited in great anticipation like my son does now waiting for the superbowl each year. Except this was a singular event that had never been done before.
We had no idea that it would not be repeated to this day. At the time, we just relished the many long years and events that brought us to that day.
So that day, I went to Larry's house. I am not sure exactly why because my home had a large color TV and Larry still had black and white. I guess it was because no parents were around and so, we had the house to ourselves. Finally, the moment arrived. I was totally fixated on the TV.
Larry, though, was hungry. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him open the refrigerator. He grabbed a very large jar of mayonaise. I guess he is gonna make a sandwich, I thought. The lunar lander had just set down upon the moons surface. Larry then opened the lid and, at the exact time when that big boot finally set down and the words across the screen rung out "One small step for man. . .one giant leap for mankind", Larry dipped two fingers in and stuck a big glob of mayonaise into his open face.
So, after all of the many years I had so eagerly awaited one of mankinds most seminal events, that singular image will forever be engraved into my conciousness any time the lunar landing is recounted.
You may call me shallow. I will admit it. But, I could never really be friends with larry after that. It disgusted me so at the time and still does today. After all, Mayonaise is a slighly disgusting product in the first place. Granted, spread very thin on a sandwich, it tastes pretty good. But swallowing a big gloopy glob on two fingers is so unbelievably revolting, never again could I hang with Larry. And, I feel bad about it, though truely I am not sure I should.
So Larry, if you're out there, and recognize this, I just wanna say how sorry I am about our friendship and also. . .thanks a fucking lot for ruining the lunar landing for me for all eternity.