Do you wish you could travel the stars or the deep (oceans)?
That’s an easy one. I grew up in the space age. I started school just after Telstar was launched, remember the song on the radio and was about to commence secondary education when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon.
Any excuse for a memory
At that moment in time, with everything that had happened in the previous few years and the pace of new achievements, I expected mankind to be heading out into space en masse in a few years. I thought we’d be living on the Moon or Mars and working in space by the time I was not much older.
Along with just about everyone in my peer group, I wanted to be a part of it.
As Ian Gillan so succintly put it in 1972, “C’mon, let’s go space truckin.”
In the absence of career openings for astronauts at the time I left school, I did the next best thing. I went to sea.
In a lot of ways, there were similarities. You were separated from home, communication could be tricky, and you experienced things that the folk you left behind hadn’t. You were exposed to alien environments and the vastness of creation. And there was always the chance that you wouldn’t be coming home.
I loved it.
Although there were times, in rough weather, when it all got a bit exciting. Over the years, I saw things, whales, turtles, sharks, and coral, which made me wonder about what else was down there.
But I never really wanted to take a closer look. I was quite happy bobbing about where I could see what was going on.
I no longer sail the seas, even so, I’d still like to travel to the stars, although I’m a little old now and too set in my ways to learn the skills required. But I do the next best thing. I read about it (a lot), and even better than that,
I travel there in my mind.
Then I send people who are no more than a product of my imagination to have adventures out there in the big black on my behalf.
Finally, I write it all down. For you to read.
What do you think about this week’s subject?
Let me know by leaving me a comment.
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I’ll be back with another post on Thursday. See you then. Meanwhile, have a great week.
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Stevie Turner
Like you I’m too old to want to travel either to the stars or down in the deep sea. I’d rather be an armchair traveller and stay at home!
Richard Dee
I love watching it all on T.V. and shouting “I’ve been there.” Annoys the kids. 🙂
Lela Markham
I would want to travel to either, but recognize that as I age, my body may not comply. But there are many lovely books written about space travel and a few about ocean travel as well. I believe my first sci fi novel was actually 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.
Richard Dee
I remember reading that, and many others. I guess it and they played a part in igniting my passion for travel and science.
P.J. MacLayne
Although I also grew up during the dawning of the space age, and have followed it for basically most of my life, (including being able to stand in my yard and watch rocket launches) it never “spoke” to me.
Richard Dee
Growing up by the sea, I always wanted to know what was just over the horizon. In the absence of space travel, getting on a ship and finding out was the next best thing.
Kelly Williams
I bet you had the most amazing views of the night sky out on the ocean.
Richard Dee
There were times when you felt like you were the only person in the world, under a night sky that blazed from a trillion stars. With the smell of Sandalwood on the breeze and phosphorescent streaks in the waves.