Man on the Moon
In 1969, mesmerized by the images transmitted to our black and white television set, we listened intently as the crew of Apollo 11 provided a running commentary of the Lunar Module’s slow descent to the moon. The narrative became more laconic as they approached their destination. Around 100 feet from the surface, the scientific jargon had us wondering if the moon landing had occurred or not. Were we about to witness a horrific disaster, or was it merely a technical glitch that had cut-off communication? The hush was unnerving. Neil Armstrong finally broke the stillness by declaring, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
Soon after, the astronaut came out of his small spacecraft and descended the ladder. On the last rung, he hesitated. It was as though he had just realized he had made a grave mistake and was contemplating retracing his steps back to the confines of the LEM. While he stood there, the world slowed down to a stop. Love, wars, and everything in between appeared inconsequential. The entire planet held its collective breath, waiting for the outcome to be played out. Ultimately, he pushed off the ladder, floated downward, and landed on the powdery surface. As his feet touched the ground, he uttered the most recognized quote of all time:
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The world exploded with joy.
*Cricket Sound Effect *
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I admit that my account may seem overdramatized, but the whole scene did, in fact, unfold like a Hollywood movie, cliché and all.
It was amazing, nonetheless.
Before this event, we left our small apartment and moved into our new house. My mother was hoping that this change of venue would provide a better life for her children.
The year Armstrong left his footprints on Earth’s closest neighbour, my older brother purchased a refracting telescope. One late autumn evening, he took it outside. I followed suit. Mounted on a tripod, it inspired wonder, but since it was colder than usual for this time of the year, my fascination quickly diminished. Shivering, I refrained from doing an about-face as I was determined to find out what he was up to. The moon was nowhere in sight, which distinctly increased the number of bright pinpricks across the sky. Standing next to his prized possession, he stared midair. The cold wind availed itself upon me with unreserved intimacy. Puzzled, I was unable to comprehend why he hadn’t picked a star already and call it a night. He muttered something, swirled the telescope, and gazed through the tiny viewer sitting on top of it. With his cheek still glued to the instrument, he made slight adjustments. I started losing sensation to my extremities as a mild form of hypothermia began to settle in. He stopped, straightened his back, and once more bent down to look but this time through the main eyepiece. While he was busy with his toy, my survival instincts kicked in, and I started creeping my way towards the front door. I faltered and stopped in my tracks, for he motioned me back to witness his discovery. Standing still, I deliberated whether to surrender to the ever-tempting warmth of our home or go back to him. Curiosity got the better of me, and I darted towards the telescope. I leaned over to look and nearly poked my eyeball as I was overzealous in my movement. I adjusted the focus on the eyepiece and caught my breath. I was staring at the rings of Saturn.
I was amazed that this contraption had converted a pinpoint into a stunning image but equally impressed that my brother had initially singled out the celestial body with the naked eye. Doubtless, my imagination took over because, as I was viewing the planet in all its glory, I swear I sensed massive power emanating from it. The whole experience left an indelible impression on me.
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