Ghoulish Observers

ABC confirms: http://abcnews.go.com/

I remember watching the moon landing. I was visiting my aunt & uncle's farm in North Dakota, and my cousin Bradley and I huddled in front of the TV trying to decipher the images. My aunt came in from the kitchen and remarked that if God had meant men to walk on the moon, he'd have given us wings to fly there. My cousin and I quietly rolled our eyes.

They're all dead now, my aunt & uncle, my cousin, and Neil Armstrong. My memory of that night is all that's left.

Dammit. I wasn't even around yet when he walked on the moon but I still feel this.

Statement from his family:

Saturday, August 25, 2012

"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.

He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.

As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.

While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."
More information at http://neilarmstronginfo.com

From here: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?utm_campaign=&utm_medium=srs.gs-twitter&utm_content=api&utm_source=t.co&pid=38284

Dammit, August! Will you stop already??

This is so sad. I know my parents remember the landing. I wish I had been around to see it.

I remember the night of the moon landing; I was staying with my aunt, uncles and cousins, and we were all gather round the TV set, watching that fuzzy signal. We all held our breath as he made that historic leap.

I remember the ticker tape parade for the astronauts up Broadway; it was incredible. (I'm not sure which was bigger: the one for the astronauts or the one for the Mets -- NYC was crazy that year.) At one time, I did have the autographs of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins; my mom's boss was a friend of Walter Cronkite, and got them for me. Unfortunately, they were lost in either one of mom's cleaning sprees or in a move. Even though, they're no longer in my possession, I still treasure their memory.