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The Big Day Is Here

The older you get the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

Daughter Robin and her husband, Bob, arranged for tickets to see the Apollo and Shuttle displays at the California Science Center on this special day!

Please visit our visit of celebration

Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin, both American, landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC. I was there, in heart, as I was honored to have worked on the Apollo Program for North American Aviation (Rockwell).

I knew the inside of the Apollo Capsule like the back of my hand having been in the seats and conversant with the Astronauts over the many months it underwent final checkout at Downey California.

If it were happening today this is what the “free press” would say… Damn the NY Times and the rest of the “drive-by media”.

Sad day when the “news” papers are so biased and non-newsworthy
Robin, Bob, and grandson Nick!

At that time I was a test engineer on the Stabilization and Control System (SCS) which provided a capability for monitoring and controlling the attitude of the spacecraft, for translational maneuvers and SPS thrust vector control. Also the SCS is the backup system for the Primary Guidance, Navigation and Control System (PGNCS), which is the Apollo Guidance Computer basically.

Hard to believe it’s been 50 years but the details have all come back!
We rolled and strolled all over the displays

On the way back to McKay’s, we did an emergency stop at Cold Stone Creamery!

Needed energy after walking four miles!

After a six hour visit, we headed home and to our surprise, we headed for the Phoenix Club to dance the night away. It was an informal dance meaning no suits and ties…yes! The older I get the better these are! We sat with Donna & Bob, Vicky & Del, and others. Great fun…plus we tried the rumba…first time we have danced it in a couple of years…it all comes back!

We danced from 6:30 PM until 10:30 PM

It was a great day full of memories. We headed home for tookies and some TV before crashing.

That’s a big AMEN!

About Paul

Just an old retired guy trying to finish out my last years on this planet. I lost my best friend and wife in early 2020. I was blessed again by reconnecting with Dr. Mary Côté, a long-time friend. Mary and I got married July 28th, 2021, and are enjoying life together and plan to spend the rest of our lives being a blessing to our friends and family.
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