This is where we are today. Here, and in the den. The A/C has been on since 7 am. It’s so humid, you can cut the air with a knife. Don has already been out to water the plants and we’ll do it again later in the day. Today and tomorrow have been given an “Excessive Heat Warning.”
So, we’ll be staying indoors. No portraits for Don, which is frustrating for him as that’s two days lost. But heck, no one is going to want their picture taken in this weather! I sure wouldn’t.
I’m grateful for air conditioning, books to read, movies to watch, and shelter.
By the way, I went out on the porch in the dusk yesterday to water a few potted plants that had sagged from the heat. Earlier in the day, I had checked the nest in the clematis and the three eggs were there but no mama. I was starting to think they had been abandoned. As I walked around the porch, I saw a sparrow hop out of the top of the clematis and drop to the ground. So, the eggs are still viable and mama and papa are tending to them. Good news!
If you’re old enough to remember, where were you on this day 50 years ago, the day of the first walk on the Moon?
I was performing (what else is new?) out at a place called Camp Dearborn. It was a huge camp owned by the City of Dearborn, but at a distance from the city, where residents could spend a week or two camping with their families. Not unlike the Yogi Bear Campsites that are just down the road from us – lots of activities for families and kids, that kind of thing. My family never camped there – too many people, too much noise. My parents preferred to go ‘up north’ and camp in Northern Michigan, which was beautiful, but boring for me as a young kid. As you would expect, my head was buried in a book much of the time.
Back to why I was with a gang of teenagers at Camp Dearborn: We were doing a summer musical, something I did every summer when I was in junior and senior high school, so the city asked us to perform scenes from it that night. We knew the walk on the Moon was happening and, oddly enough, there were televisions in various parts of the facility – outdoor televisions with small screens that were on some sort of pole accompanied by a few benches. At the point when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were to set foot on the Moon, we all ran over to a television set to witness it. It was not unlike standing outside the window of a department store watching a small television set in the midst of a large crowd of people. It didn’t have the intimacy of watching in your living room, but it did have the energy and collective awe of a crowd of people who couldn’t believe what they were seeing, who cheered as Neil Armstrong said “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
I remember it pretty vividly.
50 years ago! Amazing.
Happy Saturday.
I used to go to Camp Dearborn. Mayor Hubbard is the one that started it just for residents of Dearborn. We lived in Detroit, on the Hamtramck border, and my parents knew someone who lived in Dearborn and got us a “pass” to get it. It was a great place for swimming and having a cookout. I wonder how it is today. I was 14 when the moon landing occurred. I don’t think I realized how huge that feat was!!! Seems like yesterday, not 50 years!
Oh yeah. I knew Mayor Hubbard. My best friend’s father was a State Representative, so I ran into Hubbard a lot. He did a lot of good for the city, but he was a racist, so I never liked him.
I wonder what it’s like today as well. Is it still in existence? Is it still owned by the city? I’ll have to investigate!
I was very young, but I remember it. We were on vacation and we were all in the living room of the people we were visiting. They had children too and all of the kids, including me were on the floor watching. I remember the adults telling us to remember this time because it was a very important moment in history. I didn’t really get it then, but I do now. By the way, it’s really hot here inNC too!
An amazing feat. I was old enough to get its importance – 16, about to turn 17.
Stay cool!
I live in Detroit. Camp Dearborn is in Milford, Mi and about an hour from Detroit Downtown. It is a beautiful 626 acre campground with lots of events for children and families. It is very well maintained and located on General Motors Drive in Milford MI and still owned by the city of Dearborn. It is about 35 minutes from downtown Dearborn.
Yes, I know it’s in Milford. Milford isn’t far from the lake cottage my dad’s family used to own. Glad to know the City of Dearborn still owns it. It’s lovely there, but I always preferred something more natural and rustic. However, generations of Dearbornites loved it and there are lots of Camp Dearborn memories among my childhood friends.
Camp Dearborn! I’ve been to Camp Dearborn — spent the day there with a friend c. 1972. You’re right — lots of people but when you’re with fun ones, it’s OK. I’m still Up-North Michigan and it’s 90s and humid and high heat index. No air-con but there is a lake and I’m spending a good deal of time in it, even though I can’t fully submerge for awhile till the ear is better. No matter — up to the neck is fine!
We were here watching the moon 50 years ago, too, but this time at my aunt’s up in Gaylord, all the cousins, aunts and uncles crammed into their family room. It seems so long ago; we were so young!
Stay as cool as you can — I know that’s nigh onto impossible but what a lovely room to be hiding out in during the heat!
We spent a lot of time in Gaylord and Grayling and Vanderbilt – all towns that were near our campground. Then later, when I was a camp counselor, we were near Mio and Fairview.
I envy you in that you can swim in a lake. To me, there’s nothing better than lake water! Stay cool!
Yes, so long ago and we were all so young. I was a teen mom, holding my newborn second son while the first son ran wild with his cousins— sitting on the sofa at the inlaws’ glued to the TV. It felt earth-changing to me as I thought of the brave new world my kids would grow up in.
Exactly! Earth-changing. xo
My mom, sisters, brother and I were living in Ohio, waiting for my dad to return from Vietnam. He had been there a year. I don’t think I saw it but I remember putting together the Lunar Module Eagle that punch out of cardboard. I think it was free from the gas station in our village.
Too hot!!!!
How hard it must have been to have your dad far away in Vietnam! Thanks, Trina!
Yup, another day planned for sheltering in the air conditioning here in SE WI too. Besides reading, I’ve tried to devote time to knitting on a baby blanket for the first grandchild of my former boss. Baby was adopted a month ago so I’m a bit late. But while I loved John to death the 11 years I worked for him, but I can’t commit to sitting in 90-plus degree heat with it on my lap. Besides, they won’t need it until fall anyway, I tell myself.
You know, I was 19 when we went to the moon, and I remember seeing Armstrong’s first steps in real time on tv, but have no idea where I was. Probably at my parents’ house. Unreal it’s been 50 years! Before I got out of bed this morning, I was doing the math and realized with a shock that I’ve been with Dean for more years than I was years old the day I met him. Feeling very ancient today.
Enjoy your day in the coolness of your cozy nest. Don is smart to stay in too. Heat stroke is a real possibility on days like this. Well, I’ve just been informed we should drive down to this huge lighting place to consider pendants for the kitchen island. Of course, we won’t like the same ones at first, but I suppose we should make a start. That way we’ll have compromised on one by the time they actually need to hang them in a couple months.
As long as the lighting place is air-conditioned, Kay!
I could never knit or crochet when the weather was hot.
Oh…I had my head in the clouds that whole summer getting ready for my freshman year at U of Wisconsin. But…I came down to earth so to speak, to watch the launch in real time. I remember watching it with my grandmother. And I remember standing close to the tv so I could see it better…and of course, Walter Cronkite. Hard to believe it’s been 50 years. Where oh where did the time go…it seems like just the blink of an eye.
Stay cool today. I just finished watering my planters. It’s supposed to storm this afternoon and evening…blowing all the humidity out of here!! It can’t come soon enough. Enjoy your day! ;)
I was 13 and remember watching with my parents at home. It was evening time and very exciting as we watched on our black and white TV. Colour TV was in its infancy in the UK and extremely expensive!
I know I had to go to school next day as English schools don’t break up for the summer until late July and everyone was talking about it.
I did laugh yesterday at the library where I work as we’ve got lots of activities planned for our children’s summer reading challenge, using the theme ‘Off into Space’. I’m the only one who could actually remember the event, others were either too young or not even born !
It’s being relayed in ‘actual time’ tonight on TV, starting at 8:00 pm
Happy Saturday
I wonder if some station is doing that here? I’ll have to check!
Well…enjoy the replay Dee Dee! ;)
Thanks, Donnamae!
We’ll be getting that storm tomorrow! Oh, I miss Walter Cronkite!
We had lots of fun at Camp Dearborn. I may camp there next year. I hear that they still do the “Chicken Fat” morning exercise routine.
Thanks for the memories of the moon walk.
I used to have the recording of Robert Preston doing Chicken Fat. I think they gave them to us at Snow School!
I’ve known all along that I’m the Grandmother of this group as I was living in Chicago and teaching in a Head Start center !xo
Just older and wiser, dear Annette!
Oh wow! I was 19 and living in Hawaii and trying to watch on a tiny tv with nothing but rabbit ears. It was fuzzy but I saw it!! Amazing times back then. Felt like we were on the cusp of so much discovery, awe and wonder. How far we have fallen I fear. Staying cool and indoors this weekend. Reading, watching movies and napping! Ha!!
Yes, now they don’t believe in science – so how could they ever get to Mars or have a Space Patrol? Isn’t that what he called it?
Claudia, I was a young teen but don’t remember actually watching the moon landing. I know I saw it but don’t know if it were later or much later or if I have a false memory. My most vivid memory of “where were you” was the JFK assassination.
Sorry the humidity and heat make being outside unbearable. I’m in 70+ degree weather but under an umbrella and listening to a bubbling fountain enjoying my lunch salad. Will (finally) start Becoming after lunch.
It is unbearable out there. I went out for a few minutes and came right back inside!
I was 10, and it was the first night of a week at Girl Scout camp in northeastern Connecticut. They gathered us all in the dining hall to cluster around small TVs. I was so excited and proud – one of my friend s dad had worked on the life support backpack the astronauts wore. And Walter Cronkite! I miss newscasters like him so much.
How neat to know someone who was a part of that great mission!
I miss Walter Cronkite so, so much!
I totally remember where I was. July 21 is my birthday, and it was SUPPOSED to be the date that Apollo 11 landed on the moon. The schedule was made public several months before the launch & ever since reading it, my Dad had been telling me that my birthdate was going to be a date in history! “Like Dec 7, 1941 – or June 6, 1944 – or Nov 22, 1963 – only this time it would be famous for being a GOOD thing!!!” Dad got me SO excited about it. When the big moment came, however, they were 2½ hours ahead of schedule – or something like that. And the lunar module touched down on the moon around 9 pm on July 20th. I was one crushed 13 year old. Really broken-hearted. I remember my Dad consoling me – or trying to – by saying – “Since when is a government project AHEAD of schedule??” My parents & I were the only ones watching the landing & later the moonwalk at our house – it was the wee hours and my 5 sibs – all younger – were corked off. So that was a pretty special memory too. Life has certainly gone on, and I’ve gotten over the disappointment of course – but every time I see that date – July 20, 1969 – men landed on the moon – I feel that chagrin of the moment all over again. Sigh. Keep cool & good luck with those baby bird eggs! Peace.🌝
#Resist
#ImpeachTrump
Oh, poor Janet! How disappointing for you! Happy Birthday, my friend!
I remember that day quite clearly. I was 16 and in Year 11 at High School in Adelaide, South Australia, and we were given the option of either staying at school to watch the transmission in the school hall or going home to watch it. Naturally, I went home. My parents and elder sister were at work and my two younger brothers were at school, so I watched it on my own. I can’t remember much of what I saw but I understood the enormity of what I had just seen. So Janet from Rochester, the date when man first landed on the moon was approximately 6.15 a.m. on July 21 Australian Eastern Standard Time and the moon walk was transmitted live from Honeysuckle Creek, Australia, at about 1.00 p.m. that day.
My husband said he watched the moon walk on a TV set in a store window, along with many others.
Janet will be happy to know it was on July 21 in Australia, Beverley!
What an amazing feat and we were lucky to see it happening live.
I was super young but remember my dad trying to show me on the tv what was happening. And I just wanted to go back to my toys! Super cool when I understood it later in life!
Hope you get some relief from the heat soon.
X Chy
We finally have some relief, Chy. Thank goodness!!