One Small Step for Man

I was driving to work today, and on the radio, they had the touchdown of the Discovery space shuttle. It is amazing to me how commonplace space travel has become. In a couple of days, it will be 37 years since Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon. I remember that evening so clearly. My sisters and I were at Grandpa & Grandma Etzler's house. We had to take a nap in the afternoon, in order to watch the moon walk. Looking back, my Grandparents probably needed that quiet time more then we did, but we laid in our beds, simmering with excitement more at the chance to stay up late then being able to watch a historic moment.

I don't remember much about the actual moon walk. The picture was very graining and static, and I was tired. I do remember the feeling of excitement and awe. At that time, the moon truly was the ends of the earth.

I remember later talking to my Grandma Bremer about the moon walk and how exciting it was. She was skeptical of the whole space mission, and especially men walking on the moon. One of her sisters never believed it actually happened. Thinking about it, I can understand. In her lifetime, people went from using horses to plow fields to men walking on the moon - in just a short amount of time.

I recently read and article that said the first moon walk marked an entire generation. I have to agree. The moon walk was an exciting time of hope and possibilities. It showed that you really could do whatever you set your mind to. We have come far in our space travel. Now, a shuttle lands like a regular airplane when it returns from space. I have to say, although it was much more dangerous, seeing the astronauts being plucked from the bobbing capsule in the sea seemed so much more satisfying and rewarding, like they really had been to a distant planet.

I hope that we never lose that sense of awe regarding space travel. It truly is one small step for man but one large leap for mankind.