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Where were you July 20, 1969? -- vanity
July 20, 2019 | Skooz

Posted on 07/20/2019 7:06:19 AM PDT by Skooz

My dad was USAF, stationed at Minot AFB, ND.

I was a 9 year-old space nerd. Most of my friends were also space nerds and we followed the Apollo program closely.

During the summer, the housing area was crawling with kids all day until the sun set about 10:00 pm. Every house had at least one kid, and most had 2 or 4. The winters were harsh, so we took full advantage of the summers and stayed outside as much as possible. GREAT place to grow up. The best.

The evening of July 20, 1969, I was playing with some friends and one by one they headed home to watch the moon walk. I walked home and sat on my dad's Ford Falcon, head down and listening to the news cast on a transistor radio my grandma had given me.

After 30 minutes or so I looked up and was amazed. The neighborhood that a few minutes before had been overflowing with people -- kids playing, moms gathered in groups chatting, dads washing cars--- was a ghost town. Empty. Not a soul. Not even a cat. Nothing. It was still and void. I had never seen it like that. I felt like the last person on earth.

That was when I went inside and sat down in front of the TV with my family. And like everyone else, watched Aldrin and Armstrong walk on the moon.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History
KEYWORDS: apollo11; apolloprogram; buzzaldrin; neilarmstrong
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To: Skooz

I was at home with my family, back when all of us were still living. We watched the landing together, and were ecstatic.


21 posted on 07/20/2019 7:17:48 AM PDT by lee martell
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I was 6, and like most kids in the UK, I was tucked up in my bed (with teddy).
Wouldn’t have watched it anyway, as we didn’t have a telly till 1970.


22 posted on 07/20/2019 7:18:15 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: Skooz

Watched moon landing with my grandfather, who vividly recalled his excitement as the news of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk had spread.

He also had been a friend of pioneering aviator Elling Weeks.


23 posted on 07/20/2019 7:19:34 AM PDT by jjotto (Next week, BOOM!, for sure!)
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To: Skooz

Camp Tien-Sha, RVN.


24 posted on 07/20/2019 7:19:57 AM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: Skooz

It was a Sunday evening as I recall

I had just purchased a reel to reel tape recorder and the seller was helping me with how to use it, clean it etc

We stopped long enough to watch the proceedings

I vividly recall Old Man Cronkite orgasming as man first stepped on the Moon

That must’ve been the 1% patriotism in him leaking out


25 posted on 07/20/2019 7:20:21 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Pussie Smollett, Mizzou, campus fake nooses, fake "protests" FAKE EVERYTHING Hey CNN? lol)
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To: Skooz

I was a stock boy at K-Mart watching the tv’s in the appliance department. The next month I was drafted.


26 posted on 07/20/2019 7:21:09 AM PDT by Spok
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To: Skooz

I was on the Mass Pike headed up for a vacation in Derry, NH with my family. I seem to remember it was raining. I was 12 at the time.


27 posted on 07/20/2019 7:21:12 AM PDT by MarDav
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To: Skooz

At my rented house between college years, watching with roommates.


28 posted on 07/20/2019 7:21:52 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: Skooz

BTW, not to say I’m a geezer or anything, but on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC I was on my dual T-38 cross country (eastbound at FL370, directly over Salt Lake City) when ARTCC keyed the mike and said “They’re on the moon!” High fives were impossible - a couple of aileron rolls did just fine.


29 posted on 07/20/2019 7:22:10 AM PDT by QBFimi (It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world... Tarfon)
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To: Skooz

That was the day of my mother’s funeral. Afterwards, several family members went to a tavern with a TV and we all watched the moon landing. I remember someone commenting that my mother had a ringside seat to watch it now.


30 posted on 07/20/2019 7:23:09 AM PDT by Nea Wood
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To: Skooz
I wasn't quite 2 years old, so my memory is nil.

The one and only Apollo memory my brain held on to is watching our black-and-white TV when Apollo 17 splashed down at the end of its mission.

As my dad actually worked on Apollo, I'm quite sure I watched even more of all the missions, but I just never stored away those times away into my memory banks.

31 posted on 07/20/2019 7:24:08 AM PDT by Yossarian
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To: Skooz

I was at the Sandwich Illinois municipal airport seeing Bob Hope in person, who stopped over to give us a few chuckles.

https://www.dekalbcountylife.com/6-5-12.htm


32 posted on 07/20/2019 7:24:36 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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To: Skooz
I was a 17-year-old working as a dishwasher at the local greasy spoon, located just a few blocks from my house.

I didn’t care if they fired me, I wasn’t going to miss this momentous and magical event.

So, I repeatedly abandoned the dirty dishes and ran home to catch the first steps on the lunar surface.

It was quite frustrating, because the actual “first step” occurred HOURS after it was reported that it would happen.

I did manage to get to the TV for the big event, however

33 posted on 07/20/2019 7:24:44 AM PDT by daler
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To: Skooz

I was 6.

Location: Lime Lake, NY.


34 posted on 07/20/2019 7:24:46 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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To: Skooz

Bkmrk


35 posted on 07/20/2019 7:24:52 AM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Use Comey's Report, Indict Hillary now; build Kate's wall. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: Skooz

Celebrating my 15th birthday. We had a houseful of company. I watched the landing on a 12” b&w Admiral tv.


36 posted on 07/20/2019 7:25:48 AM PDT by upsdriver (WWG1WGA)
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To: Skooz

I was working as a timer and handicap starter at a local drag strip watching the landing on a small TV between rounds of modified production dragsters


37 posted on 07/20/2019 7:26:10 AM PDT by The Great RJ ("Socialists are happy until they run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatche)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
I was in the Central Highlands of Vietnam trying to stay alive while some guy was walking on the Moon. Quite a contrast, wouldn’t you say?

God bless you for your service (and those others on this thread who likewise served). As to your comment, you were there and I wasn't, but....

Korean War veteran and Moon walker.

Maybe less of a contrast than it seems.

38 posted on 07/20/2019 7:27:25 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Skooz

I grew up on a farm 20 miles from Minot AFB.


39 posted on 07/20/2019 7:27:36 AM PDT by upsdriver (WWG1WGA)
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To: Skooz

Yup, 9 year old space nerd like you as well.

Growing up in an idyllic neighborhood in Bridgewater, NJ.


40 posted on 07/20/2019 7:28:00 AM PDT by nesnah (Liberals - the petulant children of politics)
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