Credit: IMDB

If you like classy romantic comedies and you also are interested in the space race, particularly Apollo 11 and its historic moon landing, you will love this movie! It was refreshing to see a film that has an engaging storyline and clips of a time in history of which I am fascinated. How entertaining to look back at Cocoa Beach in the late 1960s – that was a bonus!

I was 13 years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon in July of 1969. We did not live in Florida at that time, but my dad was involved in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions via his job as a deputy communications director at Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington, D.C. In fact, in the early 1960s, that area in Maryland did not yet have its own identity as our postal city address was Washington, D.C.

I have memories of Dad going on TDY (temporary duty) “down range.” I do not recall ever asking him what that meant. I was probably afraid he would tell me, and I would be sucked into his work life. The answers would have been far more exciting now than when I was a young teenage girl. More than likely, I was simply involved in myself and didn’t even think to ask the question.

Dad traveled a lot during the launches. He also went to splashdown parties and several of the astronauts knew him by name. That was realized by my nephew one day when Dad was visiting them in Washington State. During some tour they were doing, an astronaut was there, recognized my dad, and called him by name. In my nephew’s eyes, Dad may as well have landed on the moon.

All these memories and more were swimming through my mind while we watched the movie: Walter Cronkite and his famous sign-off, “And that’s the way it is…” – Mixing a glass of Tang, just like the astronauts drank in space. – Neil Armstrong telling us, “The Eagle has landed.” – And even more moving were those perfect words he stated after setting foot on the lunar surface. “That’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.”

The actual footage incorporated into the film was marvelous. The story contained parts that were crazy and funny. I laughed so much at one point that I disturbed the man sitting in front of me. (He’s not used to going to the movies with me!)

I was sucked into the story – like I wish I had given myself and my dad the opportunity to allow me to be sucked into the amazing things he was witnessing up close and personal back so many years ago. I missed my dad. Sadly, those times can’t be revisited.

Or can they? Not in the same way, of course. After Dad passed nearly seven years ago, being the only local one of their kids, I was tasked with going through his massive files and memorabilia. We kept the garbage collection folks busy during that time, but there were some real gems within the mountains of stuff, including lots of information about Apollo 10 and 11. I wish I could ask my father how he came to own these things, but that may be a question better not to ask.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the files, complete with autographs. I think I need to figure out how to display some of these.

Earth Rise

After recovery from splash down over the Pacific Ocean, President Nixon speaks to the astronauts via microphone while they are in their quarantine trailer aboard the USS Hornet some 900 miles southwest of Hawaii. The trailer was then offloaded in Hawaii and flown by aircraft to Houston where the astronauts completed their 21-day quarantine. You can’t be too careful! There might have been harmful organisms brought back from the moon.

And then there is my favorite artifact from that period – a Project Apollo coffee mug. During the movie, this mug was featured prominently in the command center as NASA employees watched the launch of Apollo 11. It also has a prominent place in my curio cabinet. I’ll never drink out of it because I’d probably spill since it’s cone-shaped (like the command module) and likely the paint contains lead. Still, it’s pretty cool and one of my favorite things from my dad. Thanks for the memories, Dad!

So, what are the chances that I would see the movie, Fly Me to the Moon, on one day and then the next day revisit an old blog post of mine from July 2011where I talk about my love the space program? Astronomical!

The movie and that post have some interesting, common links, so I’ll also link it here. By the way, before July 31, 2012, I blogged under A Ship Bound for Tarshish, so don’t get confused by the name difference. You’ll be clicking onto the correct link.