Link to the First Day
Safely home, we gathered around the television to watch the news and listen to the broadcast of the Apollo 8 astronauts. To me, their was never a doubt that we would accomplish President Kennedy's goal. The long string of Mercury and Apollo launches during my formative years inspired me to want to follow in the paths of the astronauts and to be an adventurer. My trip to Europe was just the first step for me in that quest.
On this day, Christmas Eve of 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 read the first 10 verses of the book of Genesis, as they orbited the moon for the first time in human history.
- William Anders
- "We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
- Jim Lovell
- "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
- Frank Borman
- "And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."
Flew into Lawton, Oklahoma, from Love Field in Dallas. All the family was there to welcome me home. Everyone looked bigger. I must have looked a lot skinnier. It was great to be home with lots of stories to share.
Slept late. The morning plane was held back by bad weather. I spent the day watching television (in English, what a treat!), and playing with my cousin's guitar, organ and piano. The Cavnar's are a very musically talented family.
Got away to Atlanta at 4 am, only to find no room on the flight I had planned to take. After a boring three hour wait in Atlanta, I got on a Los Angeles-bound Delta flight to New Orleans and Dallas. Had a 20 minute stop in New Orleans at 8 am, on to Dallas arriving at 10:30 am. My Aunt Margaret Cavnar picked me up at 11:30. Went home. My cousins Nick and Dick arrived and we had a real American hot dog lunch. Still not a "Z" of sleep since waking in Luxembourg. Got reservations on a Frontier flight to Lawton for tomorrow. Visited with my Scoutmaster Lon Sailers, the one who led us all to Sweden in August. Picked up Jim at midnight at Love Field and got to bed at 1 am.
Well tomorrow night just never came. The day went on and on and I put in what was for me the longest day. I arose at 8 am, packed and set out in a wet slushy snow for the airport of Luxembourg, about four miles out of town. I met two boys from Miami and while we waited for the baggage check to open we talked about our experiences in Europe. [I flew on the new discount airline Air Bahama, which operated DC-8s between Luxembourg, Shannon, Iceland, and Nassau. ] After a long wait, the airplane took off at 1 pm. An American girl from Miami studying in Switzerland sat with me on the return trip. We read each other's diaries, and so I got to know a good deal about her. We had a 45 minute refueling stop at Shannon, Ireland, then we were off from Europe. It's a strange but old country, the USA. We arrived after a 12 hour uneventful flight into Nassau at 6:30 pm local. I was late for my connection but got on another one at 8:30. Got through customs okay and were soon off to America on Pan Am. I arrived in Miami too late to catch my plane, so spent five hours at Miami International airport trying to sleep, but it was impossible.
Got away to Atlanta at 4 am, only to find no room on the flight I had planned to take. After a boring three hour wait in Atlanta, I got on a Los Angeles-bound Delta flight to New Orleans and Dallas. Had a 20 minute stop in New Orleans at 8 am, on to Dallas arriving at 10:30 am. My Aunt Margaret Cavnar picked me up at 11:30. Went home. My cousins Nick and Dick arrived and we had a real American hot dog lunch. Still not a "Z" of sleep since waking in Luxembourg. Got reservations on a Frontier flight to Lawton for tomorrow. Visited with my Scoutmaster Lon Sailers, the one who led us all to Sweden in August. Picked up Jim at midnight at Love Field and got to bed at 1 am.
Carolyn Emerson
1551 Salvatierra Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Chateau Brillantmont
16 Av Secretan
1005 Lausanne
Vaud, Switzerland
Awoke at 8 am. Roamed Luxembourg until 2 pm, and went to see the move "The Killer Likes Candy" for 40 cents. Then I picked up the receipt for my suitcases at the Boy Scout Office, got the suitcases at customs, and started to repack in front of the luggage lockers in the station. As I started throwing things out I couldn't take, the bums started closing in on me to take what I didn't want. I retreated to my hotel room, carrying my luggage up four flights of stairs. Repacked and eliminated many things. I took the suitcase to weigh it. It came in at 16 kg and the bike weighs 16 km, so I may be a few kgs over the limit. Packed about six kg of books and paper into the flightbag, which I hope won't be weighed. Tonight is the last in Europe. Tomorrow night I'll be in Dallas.
Hotel $2.40
Movie .40
Snacks .50
Slept late again. Breakfast and went to Attillio's to have my clothes washed and read his [Boy Scout Magazine] Boy's Life which I hadn't seen. Had lunch with six of the family members. Went to the Scout hut with Marc's brother, Attillio's brother and a friend, all age 13, then to a bar for a beer and some billiards. Marc joined us later. I played him, then we returned home.
I realized that I should be in Luxembourg tonight, so I hastily packed, ate, said goodbye to all, and was driven to Hasselt by Marc and his Dad, Gustaaf and friend. They saw me off at 6:28 pm. The ensuing two changes of train, in Leuven and Brussels were ones to remember. Arrived In Luxembourg at 11 am, with a heavy snow falling. Checked into a real nice $2.40 hotel room across from the Gare [train station].
Train $8.00
Hotel $2.40
Slept late and had breakfast of bread and butter, salami, cheese and coffee. Went to Marc's house next door for lunch. His brother is 13 and aspires to attend the Scout Jamboree in Japan in 1971. I showed the family my patches, souvenirs and uniform. About 3 pm, Marc, his brother, father and I drove into Mastricht, Holland. We parked the car and strolled through the festive shopping area, listening to an old fashioned traveling mechanical band and eating ice cream.
Returned to Genk after dark in the rain. We stopped at a friend's house so Marc could show off his foreign visitor. Had dinner and an enjoyable evening with Atillio's family of seven youngsters and parents.
I left Brussels at 9 am, cycling to Leuven. Had some French Fries and waited in the cold for the 12:14 train to arrive. Got to Hasselt 45 minutes later and cycled into Genk 12 km away. I first was directed to Attilio Roncada's house, the scoutmaster of the Belgium Troop at Niagra-on-the-Lake, then went over to Gustoof's house. His mother died several years ago so he lives with his Father and has no brothers or sisters. Afterwards we went down to the youth club at the church and another downtown where I impressed them with my lack of billiard ability. Retired late.
Mileage: 25 m
Gustoof Roncada
Doninikanenlaan 77
Genk, Limburg, Belgium
Was awakened early by the adorable (death wish!) two girls but I rolled over and slept until daybreak. After a chilly breakfast in the unheated basement kitchen, Mr Abdellaoui and I jump-started the cold car. Went to pick up a Tunisian friend of his. We went out to the Atomium. We took the grand tour, including coffee in the middle sphere. Went downtown, parked, had coffee in a restaurant.
Took a walk, more coffee, same restaurant. Went to a Morrocan friend's restaurant for a spicy native dish with a beer. Spent two hours there, to another restaurant for more beer and billiards. Returned home at 7 pm. As you can see, of the ten hours in Brussels, nine were in cafes over coffee or beer. If this is the guys way to enjoy his day off (He's a bus driver) I hope indeed he's having fun. After dinner, wrote and retired.
Later entry. While I was eating and watching television the fact struck me coldly and bluntly why he had be acting so unusual all day. The news showed that a giant anti-American, anti-war demonstration was held in Brussels today. He did succeed in keeping me away for it so as not to embarrass me. Now I understand.
Link to the First Day
