NEIL ARMSTRONG, the first man on the moon, died this past week at age 82. In his passing, there is a memory of . . . “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Do you remember where you were?
I do . . .
It is somewhere in the midnight hours of July 20/21, 1969, and several sports writers and a TV type or two are huddled around card tables on the veranda of a Lake Martin “vacation” home. There is the tinkle of ice in glasses and “I’m in and I’ll raise you five” and “I’ve got two pair, sevens and fours. What’ve you got?”
From a doorway, a tall man with a growl in his voice, throws a red flag.
He is Paul “Bear” Bryant and he is hosting his annual pre-season party for Alabama sports writers and sportscasters.
“Y’all put the cards up and come on in here and watch something really important.”
We obey and find chairs, some sit on the floor in a semi-circle in front of a fuzzy TV picture in one corner of the den.
We watch in silent awe, listen in apprehension, as the lunar landing approaches touchdown. And we cheer.
“Beat them Russians again!”
And then, Neil Armstrong’s voice from way up there . . .
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Where were you?
A couple of emails:
“Like most boys at Saks back then, I had a crush on Pam Borgfeldt.”
I’m withholding the name in the interest of marital harmony.
Another linked me to a short video of Pam and another attendant doing a TV interview for an upcoming TV series on Pan Am’s flight attendants.
The TV series crashed, but Pam’s beauty has not.
It begins Saturday morning at 10 at The Chimney Cove Clubhouse. Collectors from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee will be on hand and I’d just about bet you’ll see some very fine pieces of Randolph County pottery.
A number of years ago, I did a piece on a couple from Cragford who had a huge collection of such pottery. I’m not much on jugs and vases and platters, but I knew what I was looking at was special and absolutely beautiful
I’m sorry I can’t come up with the couple’s name, but a good guess is their collection will be a star of the show.
From here, you take U.S. 431 south, and when you cross Lake Wedowee just shy of Wedowee, look to your right. You’ll be looking at the Chimney Cove Clubhouse.
You can thank me later.
Aug. 27 – Susie Smith, a gorgeous brunette whose best deal is being my daughter-in-law. I can hear her sputtering on that one right now, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Aug. 29 – My Aunt Burma Jean Poss Smith. She’s one of only two aunts I have left and I’m glad both are still around.
Thanks for visiting . . .
George Smith can be reached at 256-239-5286 or e-mail: gsmith731@gmail.com
