A Kid Again
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86568)
United States
April 13, 2026 10:39pm CST
It's nearly time for my birthday. I'm an old lady. But over the past weekend, I was a kid again.
I grew up in the 60s, the time of America's space exploration. The astronauts were heroes. We cried collectively over the tragedy of Apollo 1. We cheered when Apollo 8 circled the moon, and then again when Apollo 11 landed on the moon and an American walked on the moon.
Things were so commonplace by 1970 that the notion of a problem was nowhere near our thoughts. Then came my tenth birthday, when we again celebrated: instead of a disaster, Apollo 13 safely returned to earth following a major problem. (You can watch the movie all you want, but living through that event was harrowing.)
Going back to the moon rejuvenated the kid in me and those memories of the Apollo launches. Those were major news items then: all three (there were only three channels then) networks covered the launches, so you picked if you wanted Uncle Walter or Chet and David (Huntley and Brinkley) to talk about it. (We always went with Cronkite.) The excitement of the launch, the trip around the moon, and the concerns about re-entry into the earth's atmosphere and the splashdown brought it all back.
It's good to be a kid again. God bless our astronauts.
The NASA coverage of the Artemis II return (the entire thing):
Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
16 people like this
14 responses
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
14 Apr
@FourWalls Those were so different times, better times.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59105)
•
14 Apr
I well remember the Armstrong and Aldrin walk on the moon. I was at my aunt's house in St. Louis. We were all simply glued to the TV. And of course Apollo 13 and it's safe return to earth. Only one space mission had bad affects on me and my children--the kids were watching the Challenger on a big screen at school when it exploded. I was home with a sick baby, rocking her while I watched it. A memory we all wish we didn't have, and it didn't have to happen. We did watch pretty much all of Artemis II's coverage. It was so good to see them splash down safely.
I have to correct something about your post. You are not, nor will you ever, ever be, an old lady. Your spirit is just too young and lively. Don't ever change that, dear friend! 
3 people like this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
The Challenger was horrible because so many kids were watching (the teacher in space program).
I have a 66-year-old body and a 10-year-old mind warring with each other. 
Thank you. 
Thank you. 1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59105)
•
14 Apr
@FourWalls
I agree about the Challenger. My kids were traumatized over it.
Like I said, you will never be old. Some lights just don’t have a dimmer switch.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
I saw the landing, but I was asleep on the floor when they got out of the LEM.
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
14 Apr
I wasn't born back then. But I'm glad we got to travel around the moon again. I do believe the moon landing was real.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
Oh, me too. There was a movie back in the 70s about the moon landing being fake (Capricorn One) and it’s seemed to have taken hold. All I want from the flat-earthers is a photo of the edge of the earth, and I’ll accept what they say.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
15 Apr
@thelme55 — one of those evil tricks adults played on us! 
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (79311)
• Germany
15 Apr
@FourWalls That’s right but when we were a kid, we wanted to grow up fast
1 person likes this
@eLdav1s (539)
• Nigeria
14 Apr
Oh i can only imagine how yous guys felt back then during the first space exploration, and having to see it happen again after so many years, the feeling would definitely hit differently compared to the Younger ones who are having the experience for the first time.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
It was "the first time" then. So much unknown.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Apr
I don't really remember those but glad we are doing it again
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Apr
Thank heavens they landed safely and were all right. I remember them showing us some movies about astronauts during the 60s at grade school,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
15 Apr
I’m so thankful they’re home safely as well. The video of Christina Koch’s dog welcoming her home is wonderful.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (11252)
• United Kingdom
15 Apr
I remember the moon landing very well ….i was being babysat by my Nan and we watched it on the news. I was three years old then.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
15 Apr
It was a magical moment, a “giant leap for mankind” as Armstrong said.
@Traceyjayne (11252)
• United Kingdom
15 Apr
@FourWalls absolutely .....no one ever remembers the name of the third man that was there ...Michael Collins.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (4386)
•
14 Apr
I'm so proud of NASA and the amazing crew of Artemis 2! I was alive but too young to remember Apollo 13 (I did see the movie). I very sadly remember the two shuttle disasters, though.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
It’s so great to have the space program back in the forefront.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
14 Apr
I remember so vividly the walk on the moon. It was in the wee hours of the morning if I recall; and I wanted to stay up even though I had work the next day. My mother didn't tell me until later that work had called; and I didn't have to go into work the next day.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
14 Apr
I fell asleep but my parents and brother stayed up to watch it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
16 Apr
@FourWalls I still say to this day that it was staged. lolololololol
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (33871)
•
15 Apr
I remember a teacher telling the class the moon landings were not real
That's all I am saying.
1 person likes this
