For everyone with clear skies and a moon in them sometime between today and my sister's birthday on the 20th, I urge you to take a minute to look at our single natural satellite. Forty years ago this week, two men walked upon the face of that heavenly body, gathering stones and setting objects into the dust for scientific and symbolic purposes. Except for the act in itself and its rather limited scientific import, their achievement was a small thing when taken against such epic journeys as that of the Polos, Magellan's crew, and the natives of Hawaii and Easter Island; but these men stood in a place which can be seen from anywhere in the world. They took that place out of dreams and left footprints there which may last for millennia. If you do not believe that this happened, all you have to do is go to Mare Tranquillitatis and show the blank spot where the United States flag is supposed to be standing. I dare you.
devious 
