A photo I took last night of the Blue Moon – Issac almost denied me a chance to see it

Last night the blue moon waxed nostalgic for me. I have seen the flags at half staff all week and have thought a lot about a night long ago at my Grandma’s house.

My Grandparents at Lake Mead – circa 1969

On July 20th 1969 my Pop and Grandpa were away doing assay work on their mining claim up in northern Nevada. Grandma, who lived a couple of doors down the street came into our house about dinner time and asked my mom why the TV wasn’t on. When Pop was away my Mom loved to turn off the TV, turn on the stereo and get lost in a book. She was enjoying the peace and quiet, reading on the couch.

Grandma offered to take us all off her hands for the night and walked us down the street and sat us on the floor in front of the TV. No admonitions about sitting too close to the TV on this night. She sat my brothers and I down a couple of feet from the screen.

This is a book about the moon landing put out by CBS – I love the crater filled cover.

She sat on the floor with us as we watched in wonder as two men stepped onto the surface of the moon. My brothers seemed to be fading, falling asleep. She whispered into my ear that this was something I would remember for the rest of my life. I told her that I wanted to be an astronaut, but they were all boys. She told me that I could be anything I wanted to be.

Time Magazine Cover – July 25th 1969

Before I fell asleep that night she carried me out to the back yard where we looked up at the moon together and told Neil and Buzz goodnight.

I think I can see Tranquility Base

Safe journey Neil, Grandma was right, I will never forget that night.