Monday, July 11, 2011

The End of an Era… or two…

In a lifetime, there are events and processes which actually mark a generation or two. This past weekend we saw the end of two such eras. In passing, these do remind us that life moves on, that we have to grab every moment and live every minute, for all that is will at some point, cease to be.

These past few days were witness to the end of two eras. The one marked a footnote in the history of mankind and was emblematic of the accomplishments of one generation. The other, became an asterisk of a different kind for another generation.

Space travel, as such, is still the stuff of Science Fiction writers and moviemakers. Yes, we have put men on the moon and in orbit around the Earth. But, let’s face it folks; this is like donning the hat of a fearless explorer after tentatively venturing out to the corner drugstore, when there is still a whole country to look into. Nonetheless, the 60’s and 70’s were heady days for the space program and for all who witnessed what truly was amazing: a tiny tiny dot of a capsule going around the planet’s satellite, disappearing on the other side of the moon while the world (yes, this writer included) held its collective breath, waiting to see it appear on the other side. I still remember that an audible sigh of relief was heard around the globe when it was announced: “we have regained contact”… 

The era of television grew with this coverage; more sets were sold during this period of time than at any other time before and, who knows, probably since (taking population numbers into context for this claim, please). After the gore of the Viet Nam War had been brought into everyone’s living/dining room on a nightly basis (body count and all), following the space program was a welcome respite. Even in those occasions when the unthinkable would happen: an explosion and a loss of life and face for the program (remember: those were cold war days, and the competition between The USSR and the US was something fierce). It all came to a grand head when Neil Armstrong finally put the US ahead once and for all by stepping onto the lunar surface, claiming “One small step for man …..” Who did not watch this lifetime moment?

When the Atlantis lifted off this past Friday to carry out the last NASA sponsored space mission, it was indeed the end of an era for those of my generation. Mind you, most of us ceased to follow the individual launches over the years… you know, a “’been there, done that” attitude because, like all that is repeated over and again, the interest wears off. It is just when one realizes that there will be no more launches, that the sadness of an ending takes hold. Also, when this ending leaves more undone than done. Oh yes, by the way… That other program we beat getting to the moon? Well, it will be their ships which will now ferry our astronauts and any one else who wants to go “up there”… Life cycles do have a sense of black humor, don’t they?

The other passing?  If you have been near a bookstore,  DVD player, or you have been “flickered”, Twittered”, FaceBooked” or have been near a  movie house sometime over the last 14 years, the name “Harry Potter” must be recognizable. From an original printing of a mere 1,000 copies, to some 500 –or more- million volumes sold (and many more to be sold, I’m sure), 7 movies, each one bigger than the last and with many millions of copies being sold, thousands of fan clubs everywhere and after having created a virtual $2.5 Billion dollar empire, the last chapter of the original story is finally here.

Many of today’s 16-18 year olds grew thinking, at one time or another, that “Hogwarts” was an actual place to go and get a magical sciences education. The characters have become real and each book was an important addition to the lore and magical world of “Potterism”. And this is not a complaint; I have actually watched most of the movies and anticipate watching the last one; they have been well done and are fun and entertaining. But this entry, much like the last launch of the Atlantis, marks the end of an era (which marketers everywhere are scrambling to continue) and many young people are actually sad and forlorn.

You know… perhaps our government can ask the moviemakers prop department to lend us a few of the magical brooms and we could continue the space program this way…  No?

Be Well, Be Back…

No comments:

Post a Comment

IS “HATRED” VALID?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, hate (verb) / hatred (noun) mean: 1.       To feel ( to hate ) intense or passionate dislike ( hatred ...