In those heady and important days beore the moon landing, I was working a gig with a BigName HiTek development corp.
2 am, and I had to pee.
So, I walked down the long dark hall in th enormous building, and into the restroom.
There was a night-shift team cleaning woman in there, and she told me to use a booth if her presence was a problem.
When I was done, we got to talking, and she said at one point, “We’re going to the moon!”
I have never forgotten her (Marcy James) or that incident.
She was absolutey a Full Participant in The Program to her mind; and was completely invested in the spirit of the thing.
As my short-sleeve white shirt and K&E 6-inch (short) skiderule shifted around a bit as I walked back to the test area, I marveled at our collectve immersion in The Program, and our joint American indominable enthusiasm in the Value of our work — right down to the cleaning lady at 2am in the men’s can.
We need that spirit back.
Showing my age here, I know, but I, too, was enthralled by our Space Program. It gave me such pride in our country, and really motivated me to do the things I did as an adult.
Thanks for sharing!