Goodnight, Moon. Goodnight, Neil. Thank you.
I just heard the news.
Neil Armstrong has died. A good 82 years strong, he’s now passed on.
Neil Armstrong walked on the moon on a July evening, back in 1969.
He was my hero, that moon-dust walker, because he plodded in moon-boots, the very first human to walk on the moon, and said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
It was my 12th birthday.
Moon dreams
In less than a month puberty would strike full-fledged for this soon-to-be-teenager in Kayenta, Arizona, but in the meantime I was still an innocent little girl sleeping out under the lower Michigan stars with my best friend, Carol.
We stared at the moon and the moon stared at us.
“Men are walking on the moon,” Carol and I told one another, daring ourselves to believe this.
“We’ll remember this night forever,” we said, daring ourselves to remember.
The Eagle had landed.
We, too, could land in unknown ports, unknown places, unknown possibilities.
Every birthday I remember Neil Armstrong and his crew…I remember when earthlings first landed on that cratered moon…when suddenly the impossible seemed Infinitely Possible.
If Neil could walk on the moon on my birthday, I could do anything.
If man could walk on the moon, all of us could do anything.
Tonight Neil Armstrong walks on the moon again, I am sure.
Without his space suit, he’s pure spirit, exploring every moon-lake, exploring every moon-crater, dancing in his new-found weightless freedom.
Thank you, Neil, for dreaming the Moon Dream and sharing it with all of us.
Lake Superior Spirit 
“Thank you, Neil, for dreaming the Moon Dream and sharing it with all of us.”
Roger that, Houston. Roger that.
A first-class hero all the way. Rest in Peace, Neil Armstrong.
A beautiful tribute Kathy, it gave me goosebumps reading it. I remember the day well also, when I was a primary school child, watching this amazing day in history. What a moon dream he shared with us all.
A lovely tribute to possibly the only hero I have ever had!
Team FREDNET may honor him in some small way….we will see!
Thank you for sharing where you were on earth. We were in Vicksburg, MS and my son was dreaming then that he would one day go to the moon. He was 7 and no, he will not go, but the Team robot is scheduled to go.
Lovely tribute Kathy. A moment we all recall along with all the other wonders we have experienced in our lifetimes. He was an extraordinary man who came back encouraging studies melding spirituality and science because of what he experienced. A life so fully lived!
Still seems unimaginable, even today with all it’s technology, to think that we actually WALKED ON THE MOON. I looked up at the moon this evening and winked at it, as his family asked us to do. I’m sure he’s somewhere exciting too now, exploring his next adventure and I’m sure his family misses him terribly already. He was a class act.
Such a piece of history
Wow. This was great to read. I can’t imagine having witnessed his initial landing, what a great time to be alive!
The “Infinitely Possible” is something I want to think of each and every day as much as I can remember to! 🙂 Thank you for sharing this, very wonderful.
How very lovely, Kathy.
Thank you
Fountainpen
So sweet, so simple, so true … the best things in life always seem to be …
That first step was such a momentous occasion. Your words are such a wonderful tribute to him. 🙂
What a beautiful tribute and remembrance of Mr. Armstrong. May he rest in peace and enjoy every adventure with immense delight, and may he know the gratitude of many for his achievement for mankind.
This is wonderfully written, and actually made me tear up with emotion over the man, the event, the shared memories…Thank you!
Lovely tribute. Neil Armstrong, I remember.
How cool that you remember. So inspirational. A thoughtful tribute, and I love the story of your younger self.
Nothing but tears and smiles. What a profound and poignant tribute. i wish his family could see it, but it’s enough that we do, and I am sending it along to him via whatever connection I can. Love to you, dear young dreamer.
OM
I was a 3-month-old baby when this happened. Not old enough to remember of course, but I’ve always thought it was pretty neat that I was born in the year we landed on the moon. Love this post.
Hi Kathy,
This was indeed an incredible man who accomplished something even more outstanding than he was! What a wonderful tribute this post is!
Hugs
SuZen
First man who stepped on the moon, we learnt. That gave us a new confidence that nothing is impossible. Legendary. Neil Armstrong will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace.
I remember being glued to the TV set, watching every moment of the landing, enthralled with the concept, envying Neil and his colleagues and admiring their courage.
Beautiful sentiments. Love them.
It was sad to hear that Armstrong had died, but he is, indeed, walking on the moon tonight. LOVE this post, Kathy!
Hugs,
Kathy
What beautiful pictures and what beautiful words. That moon walk was a defining moment for our generation. I will never forget where I was that night. Watching on a small black and white tv in my folks’ farm house. We were there for the night instead of in our house in town. Come to think of it, I have lived in two places most of my life, no wonder….
Kathy, what a tribute. It was so amazing to be part of that era. Your words echo in my heart….”you’re on the moon tonight.” Lovely. Just lovely.
I love that Neil walked on the moon. I love that he walked on the moon on YOUR birthday! Such magic. The world seemed quiet and soft that evening, as we all stopped to watch that spectacular event. I, on the cusp of going off to the “big” university, standing tanned and cool next to a boyfriend as we gazed, starry-eyed, at the t.v. in my mother’s living room, whispering “wow” under our breath. I’ve read that Neil was one of the most humble “famous” men ever … I believe it. I believe he grasped every atom of the miracle he experienced and never forgot it, kept it close to his heart and cast forth moonbeams of grace for the rest of his life, and beyond. Thank you for your wonderful commemoration!
Thank you, all you moon dreamers. It sounds like Neil Armstrong is in many of your hearts too. Keep on aiming for the moon, my friends!
Beautiful tribute, Kathy.
Thanks again…
I love the idea that Neil walked on the moon on your birthday, Kathy. I had just been born a couple of days earlier. 🙂
This is such an inspiring thought :
“If Neil could walk on the moon on my birthday, I could do anything.
If man could walk on the moon, all of us could do anything.”
Happy birthday, Reggie, Neil whispered. I’m sure he did. 🙂
Awwwww… what a lovely thought!
What a nice tribute Kathy. Funny how we all remember where we were or what we were doing that day. RIP Neil…
Do you remember what you were doing that night, Christie? I like it that you can picture the apple orchard where Carol and I were camping… Thank you.
I do remember i was next door at the Deckers watching TV.
I haven’t even thought of the Deckers in so many years… Thanks for that memory!
I just realized you sent this message to me! I think of that night often. Not just on your birthday. The orchard was an even more special place that night. I love your tribute.
Awww, Carol, now I remember why you were my best friend… Thank you…
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