Today was a tunnel-vision day, buried in work until we went to visit dad. He'd had a bad night (did I mention the mantraps still left before we're out of the woods?), but by the time we went in, he was feeling a bit better. By the time we left though, we were concerned again. He's fighting a big and fairly mean infection right now, so - hence the man-traps.
Got home to the news that Neil Armstrong had died.
So on this sad night, my thoughts are with Neil Armstrong's family. He will never be forgotten, by his nation or by the world - that is a testament to the man, his dedication, and his skill. Most of us have never known Armstrong the man, so let us mourn the loss of our legend, and send our love and compassion to those most deeply touched by his passing.
And two short words to those who fill the world with rumours about the faking of the Moon Landings. Those who would make this man's career, and those of all his fellow Apollo astronauts, a lie. Those who do not understand enough to know what they do not know, and so conclude that there must have been some other, darker explanation than that brave human beings worked together to attain what seemed impossible.
For all those people, I have just two short words:
For shame.
President Kennedy, my pal Maz reminded me, said that we choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. That mindset sent human beings to the Moon. That mindset, more recently, allowed us to land a rover on Mars. That mindset will allow us, ultimately, do do everything that's doable.
My dad's doing the hard thing right now too. He may not be a legend to the world, but he is to us, and the mindset prevails in him too...
Me, I'm walking to Pontypridd in the morning. That doesn't come anywhere near to qualifying as a thing that is hard...
Remind me I said that when I get home tomorrow, won't you?
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