Yesterday I was able to take a break from Cabaret to see one of Tim and I's ultimate icons - Buzz Aldrin, astronaut, author and all around awesome guy. Last year, we had seen the Discovery Channel series "When We Left Earth," which features interviews with the men who helped launch America into space. Together, Tim and I found a shared love for the space race. He particularly loves the technology and the engineering, and feels a commonality for his bespectacled, pocket-protected nerd comrades. I cry over the human interest stories. We watched every episode of the series, and then moved on to various other documentaries and movies, as well as reading autobiographies of various influential figures. Gene Krantz's Failure is Not an Option is a special favorite, as is Jim Lovell's Lost Moon (which was the inspiration for the movie "Apollo 13.") We've discussed in detail our favorite figures and our favorite moments, and when we were at Borders a few weeks ago and saw a flyer advertising Buzz Aldrin's appearance for his new book Magnificent Desolation we knew we had to be there. IN FACT, we showed up at 9am yesterday to buy our copies of his book. Note that Borders did not open until 10. Then I was back at the store at 4:30 to grab us seats in the second row.
The presentation was amazing. Buzz is 79 years old, and may have lost a step or two along the way, but he's an incredibly sweet, funny man. His new book is partially about his journey to the moon, but also, about his battles with depression and alcoholism - things that were extremely taboo when he was suffering in the 1970s. He's now got 30 years of sobriety, is in an incredibly happy marriage, and out to help others and tell his story. I love him so! We were able to get our books signed and meet him, and it was really the thrill of 2009. When we left, Tim and I both looked at each other and were like, "we met Buzz! We just met Buzz!" We were like four year olds on Christmas morning. It was SO COOL. I only regret that I didn't get a better picture of Tim and Buzz (the Borders ladies were pushy!)
Now if I could only meet Jim Lovell and Gene Krantz... I would truly be over the moon!
This weekend Tim is off to play video games, and I am off to sit on the couch by myself and read books and be a hermit. It will be a beautiful thing. I have a couple of open houses to see - hopefully I will find Tim and I's house. Man, this househunting... keep your fingers crossed!
Buzz, sharing some awesomeness.
Signing Tim's book
Me shaking his hand. I cannot WAIT for the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing this summer!
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