Early 1980
I sat between two women who had missed the same flight to San Francisco I had missed, and had also rushed to grab seats on this one.
One of them said, “Pete Conrad is on this flight. He was standing in the ticket line right in front of me, and I really wanted to talk to him, but I chickened out.”
Scanning the cabin, the other one asked, “Where?”
“Right now, he’s in that bathroom,” the first answered, pointing ahead, “but his seat is right across the aisle.”
An astronaut who had walked on the moon?! My heart thumped faster at just the thought. “Okay,” I announced, “when he comes out, we’re going to meet him.”
Moments later, he walked down the aisle. All three of us stood up, and I held out my hand. “Mr. Conrad,” I said, “It’s an honor to meet you. Could I ask you something?”
He shook my hand, and looking at me with eyes that were somehow deeper, vaster, fuller than any I’d ever seen, he said, “Sure.”
“What amazed you most about being on the moon?”
He hesitated only a second before answering.
“The colors. It would have to be all the colors. ” Pete Conrad, third man on the moon
Space, Time, and Raspberries 
Something totally new I’ve learnt about the moon (and about Conrad, whose name I’d forgotten).
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It certainly surprised me. The colors, not his name. 😉 I’ve carried an image of the moon’s surface sparkling with tiny iridescent rainbows ever since.
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Such a cool story and experience:)
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Thanks, Alisa! It sure has stayed with me.
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Omg…what a brilliant meeting! It must have been fascinating…I read an interview, I can’t remember who it was with, where they said that walking on the Moon made them realise the total vastness of the Universe…great post!
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Thanks, Samantha! I can see how that would be a mind opening experience — the ultimate (so far) in travel broadening your horizons. lol
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I had never heard that story! I met a lot of celebrities and even an astronaut during my years as a flight attendant. Unfortunately, the astronaut I met wasn’t as friendly…but yours is a memory to hold.
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Thanks, Kim. I do cherish this one. I had written it down a long time ago, and happened across it today so I thought I’d share it. Funny, reading it, it all came back crystal clear. That was the only time I ever missed a flight. (I was across the aisle from O.J. and Nicole once, but I didn’t try to meet him. :/)
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That is totally cool, Sue! How come we don’t have colorful photos of the moon? Now I’m going to have to go there myself and check it out! 🙂
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Thanks, Diana! It’s a mystery, isn’t it? Let me know when you’re planning that trip — maybe we could share the space capsule!
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This is your real life experience? I am so jealous (in a good way). Very nice move – think if you had chickened out you wouldn’t have had this great story. Wow.
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It was indeed a real life experience, Shirley. While I was running through the airport trying to find a timely flight to replace the one I missed, I remember being surprised that I wasn’t feeling frustrated, just in a hurry. I’m not much of a chicken, though. I figure if something you really want is within reach, put out your hand. Stretch if you have to. 🙂
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If anyone was going to make meeting him happen, it would be you. You have that presence, Sue. How awesome is this? A great post of reflection too.
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Haha! Thanks, Tre. I’ve learned never to throw away chances like this that get dumped in your lap, especially when they give you the opportunity to help someone who did. Why else would we all have been sitting where we were on a plane we never meant to take? 🙂
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You’re absolutely right! And, you are most welcome!
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❤
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💙
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