I probably experienced it about the same way Lilac's parents did. It was "grown-up" news and, therefore, not worth coming indoors on a summer day to see it.
BIG HOWEVER -- In school a few wks later in the 1st grade, they showed it to us. It was life-changing for me also, and until junior yr of HS, I planned to be an astronaut. Perfect grades, did everything right for my whole life, planned to apply to Air Force Academy. Then the counselor told me that women would never be astronauts, advised my parents to "talk some sense into me," they refused to allow me to apply for colleges, and I sort of lost my identity. Basically skipped classes for the rest of the year and senior year, aimed for C's on report cards, and got high and got fat.
4 or 5 years later, women were in space. Makes my tummy hurt and eyes cry when I think of it, the pain is still that sharp.
|