Forty-five years ago today (July 20), humanity took a giant leap from its birthplace onto the surface of another world.
That summer I was working as a prison guard -- I know, right? -- at the Wynne Farm outside Hunstville, Texas. I worked from 9 to 5 -- nine at night until five in the morning -- and so I was on duty when the historic moment took place. Although it was past the normal lights out time, the administration at the prison had allowed the inmates to stay up and watch the event. They were actually closer to the relatively small black and white television than I was. It was hard to see anything from my position in the guard's picket, but I can claim that I looked at those grainy images along with the billions of others.
On a weird side note, July 20 is also the day that Carmelites and some other Christians celebrate the feast of the Prophet Elijah, commemorating his ascent into heaven in a fiery chariot. I wonder how close he got to the moon?
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