All along the 60s the space race really enthralled me. Gagarine, (yes, I was there...) the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. What a hell of excitement that was for a teenager then!
It is said most of us remember where we were the night the Eagle landed on the moon. For my part, I was in Germany during this month of July 1969, but this is another story...
After their feat, the three Americans who made history were on a world promotion tour. And then they arrived in Paris to be introduced live on French television from the Palais de Chaillot, on October the 8th of 1969.
Man! And you thought they'd performed the hardest part of their mission... How wrong you were!
They had to endure a one hour long speech by no other than Maurice DRUON, of the French Academy. Why was this man chosen to welcome the American astronauts will for ever remain a mystery.
I still can vividly remember the three stoic men standing in row behind the talkative peacock and I couldn't help thinking what their thoughts might have been...
"Boy, they didn't warn us back home that the French leg would be that painful!"
No, really, I was so embarrassed that these men would be given such a cogent confirmation of what the French are renowned for among Americans: pretty good at making lengthy speeches and totally impotent when push comes to shove...
And Druon would go on and on and on and I was saying to myself: "Will he ever shut his big mouth?".
I had to admire the patience and fortitude of Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin for keeping a permanent smile floating on their lips while this buffoon was making a fool of himself. And to be polite and courteous enough to nonetheless thank him when their ordeal had come to an end.
Every time I remember this sinister episode of French stupidity I hope someone at least came to them and apologize for the despicable show they were dragged into.
41 years later, I still feel embarrassed...
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