It must have been about 1966 when John Glenn and I rode up together – just the two of us. We never exchanged a word. He just gave me that gentlemanly smile as we boarded and the doors closed for the ascent.
Ok…I rode up in an elevator with John Glenn. His wife, Annie, was a patient in the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas for surgery and my mother was there for surgery also. I thought I recognized him, but I was too shy to ask, “Are you John Glenn?” I don’t remember who got off first, but the next day I read in the paper that his wife was in the Methodist Hospital and knew that indeed I had ridden up with John Glenn.
My memories of him go back to February 20, 1962 when as high school students we were all called to the gym to hear over the loud-speaker via the radio (yes, I am a crone, remember) of his three orbits around the earth in the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft and splashdown in the vicinity of Grand Turk Island.
John Glenn will be 90 years old on July 18, 2011 and was recently interviewed on the CBS News commenting on the space program. He has had a long and varied career – combat pilot in World War II and the Korean conflict, one on the first seven astronauts, U.S. senator from Ohio and candidate for president of the U.S. in the 1984 Democratic primaries. Then in 1998 at the age of 77 he ventured into space again as a member of the Space Shuttle Discover crew to study the effects of space on aging and became the oldest human to go into space.
He and Annie have been married for 68 years and have established “The John and Annie Glen Historic Site” at his boyhood home in New Concord, Ohio. There will be a birthday celebration there for him on July 18.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN! You still inspire us!
What a nice experience.
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Yes, it was. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on THE COASTAL CRONE and commented:
SUMMER RE-RUN: Since I didn’t finish any of my drafts this week, here is an old post from July of last year. It had only one comment and no likes.
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what a lovely memory. He’s always seemed to me to be a gentle man and fine human being.
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Yes, it is a lovely memory for me. That was back when the world seemed a little kinder.
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A great post of the John Glenn journey! He will forever be remembered. Thank you!
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Thanks for reading and comments! He has had a special career.
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That’s so cool! I was born in 1962, but I remember the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. We watched it on our black and white console TV. I just read that NASA obtained 1.1 billion dollars in private funding to relaunch space exploration as early as 2015. Pretty exciting stuff!
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Yes, the Apollo was a defining moment and seemed unreal at the time. We have come a long way since then. Thanks for taking time to remember and comment.
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Nice story/memory, glad you reblogged it. An what an incredibly brave man, 68 years you say, WOW!
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Yes, 68 years must be love or compatibility. Wow!
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Yes, the era of John Glenn was a very different time. Now, we are de-funding NASA. I’m glad to learn that there is a private donation to the program! A clever title for this post. He is a remarkable man indeed. Nice to remember your ride with him! I enjoyed this post, Jonel.
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Thank you for remembering that era also. So many things going on in my life at that time but we must go forward.
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Incredible. I don’t know much about this man, but I do know enough to consider him both noble and heroic. I think the “married 68 years” part impresses me equally as him being an astronaut does. You just don’t see a whole lot of that anymore.
Thanks for sharing this again with us!
~ Cara
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Yes, he was fortunate to have found someone to want to still be with after 68 years.
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What a lovely tribute and how grand for you to “travel” with him!!! Thank you for making us remember the important role he played in our lives. Everytime I have seen him interviewed he has always impressed me as a humble man of honor………..rare these days.
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Yes, he was not perfect but he seemed an humble man of honor. Thank you for the comment. I am glad that I was able to travel with him.
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Excellent post!
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Thank you! The subject was easy.
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This post is really clever! I was expecting you to say you were on a plane with him. I have special memories about space travel too and can remember my young boyfriend (now spouse) gazing at the night sky and saying, “One of these days we are going to land on the moon.” I thought he was a brilliant fascinating fellow. And then John Glenn did it and proved Bill was right all along. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
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I am so glad that you caught the humor! And I remember Sputnik and gazing at the night sky. We have lived through so much and now they talk of Mars. Thank you for stopping by to remember and comment.
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That is one of the most awesome people I can think to have ridden in an elevator with. Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, it was a special ride and one to remember! Thanks for the comment!
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Memories like this do make us sound like old crones, don’t they? 🙂 Things that are so much a part of history and yet we were actually there … I feel old.
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I didn’t mean to make you feel old! Yes, writing this post did date me…I am older than I realize. Yet I am happier than I was in those days. Thanks admitting that you remember! I feel better knowing that I am not alone. Cheers!
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I would agree – I have no desire to return to those teen years. I’m quite happy and content here.
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I am still trying to catch-up on posts missed during my time off and am late for this one. Interesting that since you posted, Neil Armstrong died and this got me thinking about all of the other astronauts, then I read this. I too still remember Sputnik and the beginnings of space exploration, very exciting for a young lad! Now, as an elder, I am torn between that excitement and more down-to-earth concerns that could use the energy and funding of the space program to improve things on this planet…
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Yes, those young astronauts are passing on so that bumps us up there too. I too have concerns about sending things to Mars when we have so many problems here on earth. Thanks for commenting!
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You are most welcome…
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I look forward to catching-up on more of your posts and want to say thank you for your constant support of art rat cafe – very much appreciated…
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It is a pleasure to read your posts and see your art. I enjoy art and appreciate artists but I am not creative in that area.
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Thank you CC…
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Interesting! Such a great American…and Neil Armstrong, may he rest in peace.
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Yes, that generation is fading. Thanks for stopping by to comment and like some of my posts.
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