John Fischer's Philadelphia
Vol. 1 - Number 24 - 07/21/99
Often I write this column on the evening before it's print date. In fact, as I write now, it's actually about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Do you know where you were 30 years ago on Sunday, July 20, 1969?
There are not many dates in one's life where you can say, "I remember where I was on that day in history". For many of us the most clearly remembered day in our lives was the day that John Kennedy died in 1963. I was in fourth grade and we were watching a movie in a class assembly. Our teacher came in and told us that the President had been killed and that we should go home. To this day I remember riding home on what back then was a Philadelphia Transportation Company (now SEPTA) bus and hearing total strangers crying.
I also remember the next few days and how sad they were. Regular television programming was suspended and there was constant coverage of the President's life and the circumstances surrounding his death. I remember vividly watching the TV as young John Jr. saluted his father.
I am sure that those memories ran through many of our minds this past weekend with the events off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Whether you are someone who follows the Kennedy's or not, they are the closest thing to a royal family that this country has. The public remains fascinated with their lives.
John Kennedy, Jr. was, without question, one of the brightest stars in the family and the one most likely destined for political prominence. But, lest we forget, the events of last weekend were a tragedy for his wife's family. They have lost two children
The next date in history that I remember very clearly was July 20, 1969, thirty years ago. I was raised by what is today called in insular family consisting of my grandmother, my two aunts and my father.
My Aunt Helen had the only color TV in the household. She was my godmother and in reality served the role of a mother to me. She had a wonderful four poster bed in her bedroom. I remember sitting on the edge of that bed, watching her color TV as Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon. His words were historic, even if he forgot a word.
You see, he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." He meant to say, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
Time is so relative and our memories are so tied to our remembrance of events and people. July 20, 1969 was seven days before my Aunt's 57th birthday, and also seven days before one of my closest friends was to be born. One life so much lived and one just about to begin its journey. I remember that day as vividly as yesterday. Ask about the next day, and I have no idea of where I was or what I did.
HBO has been re-airing it's Emmy winning series, "From the Earth to the Moon" this week. This re-airing has been scheduled for months to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the moon landing. It was so bizarre to watch the first episode on Sunday night and see the scenes of John Kennedy and his pledge to land a man on the moon and bring him safely back home by the end of the decade.
The series included scenes of Kennedy's funeral including that scene of John Jr. saluting his father.
For all of you who do not believe in fate and the awesome power of life to show us irony, and kick us firmly in the butt if we forget, the events of the past days should not be forgotten.
Well, that's my spin on things. You can join me in our chat room almost every evening - Philly Chat - or drop me a note at philadelphia.guide@about.com. Also, be sure to check out our new Philadelphia Forum where you can share your comments and feelings, ask questions, post classifieds and much more
If you missed any of our recent columns you can still catch them:
John Fischer's
Philadelphia 07/09/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 07/12/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 07/14/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 07/16/99
John Fischer's Philadelphia 07/19/99