Visiting the Moon
When I was in kindergarten, I was introduced to Neil Armstrong and the moon landing. Fascinated by the thought that people could touch the night sky’s glowing orb, I decided to do the same. Now, you may think that (like many children) I was inspired to become an astronaut or a bespectacled rocket scientist, but you would be wrong.
All I wanted was to go to the moon on vacation. My first urge to travel came as the firm desire to board a white rocket, listen to a count down and jet off to the chill with the man in the moon–only to return a few weeks later, a little enlightened (excuse the pun).
I approached my father and queried about the practicality of fulfilling this objective during the forthcoming school holidays. My father looked up from the electronic device that he was rewiring and, grinning, told me to invite a friend for the journey.
When the elation of these words subsided, I was beset by an onslaught of concern because I was only allowed to invite one friend. Struck with the conundrum of choosing between Ely (the cute girl) and Billy (the best friend), I spent an entire evening staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars glued to my ceiling.
The morning’s car drive to school was a quiet affair. Sleep deprivation and the uncertainty of an unmade mind combined to render me mute. Mom and dad were accustomed to my weird streaks, so they didn’t question today’s vow of silence. As the car came to a stop I was given the usual sendoff of a sloppy kiss and a random motivational pearl.
I walked into school and approached Ely requesting that she join me on my space traveling adventure. My request was immediately met by a perplexed pause and then manic laughter… It turned out that space travel wasn’t really something that anyone else saw as a distinct possibility.
Years later…
In 2002 when Mark Shuttleworth became the first self-financed African space tourist, I had a quiet giggle to myself. His achievements were a small nod to the idle musings of a snot-nosed kindergartener.
Today…
Only the super rich can visit space, or book tickets to go to the moon – but hope is not lost. Space centers throughout the United States currently offer fantastic opportunities for members of the public to experience the weightlessness of space travel. The best part about the space center is that it’s affordable enough for everyone–meaning that you won’t have to choose between the best friend and the cute girl!
