12/24/08

FULL MOON

It's simply incredible that it was FORTY YEARS ago that a space craft from Earth made the first orbit around the moon on Christmas Eve. Are you old enough to remember? While orbiting the moon, the crew read verses from Genesis, which were broadcast live. At that point, it was the MOST watched show ever on TV.

This painting isn't forty years old, but it is from the archives. Wonder what will be happening forty years from today on Earth. I wonder.

December 24, 1968 - William Anders:
"For all the people on Earth the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send 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."

Borman then added, "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."

"FULL MOON TONIGHT" Transparent Watercolor on 140#CP Arches 21 x 14"

4 comments:

Vicki Greene said...

In some ways, it just doesn't seem like it has been 40 years since that happened. What a beautiful and appropriate post for Christmas Eve - thank you!

Lin said...

absolutely GLORIOUS!!!! May this be a most joyous holiday for you and yours!

Dawn said...

I want to say what? but cannot I was here!
lovely Sandy, and happy holidays to you and yours!
love your ornaments, so sweet!

sandy said...

Beautiful painting.

On that historical day, I was at the beach and got a good case of sun poisoning. I ended up at my boyfriend's house later watching it all on TV while I was dealing with severe nausea. I was a mere 19 years old.

nice post Sandy. Have a great Christmas.