On the Fall of Legends and the Death of Heroes

This was a particularly tough weekend for me. As I was preparing to put into words my feelings about Lance Armstrong I received the bad news that we had lost Neil Armstrong (No Relation).

Lance was a hero of mine in the way we all watched him over come the challenges of cancer to become the best in the world in his chosen sport. The LiveStrong foundation for cancer prevention is a great charity and his work to bring attention to a disease no one wants to think about much less talk about has doubtlessly saved lives. Now after a 10 year fight with the Anti Doping agency has given up. While I still do not think he was doping (he DID pass over 500 drug tests) the fact that the man best known for never giving up will now be known for giving up breaks my heart.

Lance's face and voice are known around the world, but his fame pales next to Neil's.

Truth be told, I never really cared for Neil Armstrong. But that is likely because I never got to know him. Fellow astronaut and second man on the moon (by just a few moments) Buzz Aldrin appears on TV all the time doing interviews, appearing in fiction works as cameos of himself and so on. Buzz, I have gotten to know over the years. But Neil, not so much. By all accounts he would never speak of the moon at all. Legend says that he would eat lunch in the same small diner every day but would get up and leave as soon as anyone asked him about the moon. His supporters claim this is a sign of modesty, however this refusal to speak of the moon fueled many a conspiracy nuts fantasy of a faked lunar landing.

But the name "Neil Armstrong" conveys a sense of glory and adventure that we may never see again. Until someone upstages him by being the first person to step on Mars, his name will inspire children and the adventurers around the world.

So in 2 very different but real ways we have lost 2 very different Armstrongs this weekend. And we are less because of it.


PS: I am not one that believes in the Rule of "things happen in 3's" but after losing the First American Woman in Space and the First Man on the Moon in close order, I hope that the First American to Orbit the Earth, the 91 year old John Glenn; visits his doctor for a checkup soon.