[Swimmer]

I don't remember where I was when I heard Michael Jackson had died.

Things have changed so much that what was important, like a moon landing, is equal to or of lessor importance than celebrity coming and goings.

I wonder if people felt the same way generations ago, when they learned Amelia Earheart had disappeared and probably crashed.

Novemeber 1963-the principal of my junior high school, Mr. Danielson, ordered all the teachers to bring every student into the auditorium without explanation where no one said anything. Principal and janitors rushed every TV into the auditorium and turned them all on.

My girlfriends parents were kind enough have me and several of my beach bum buddies to thier cottage over-looking the cove in Orleans where we all sat and watched Armstrong. No one said a word. My girlfriend was tickling the underside of my thigh the whole time I sat there on the couch with her.

No one mentioned the last marine on top of the american embassey in Saigon fighting off everyone who wanted to get on the last chopper out.

I was getting a haircut on 9/11 in Hanson. Barber was a pro. Never stopped cutting but turned my chair to the TV. There was 30 or so people in the small shop when I left. I said we are at war when I was walking out and one of the Conway Country girls made a smartass comment to me about being full of it. Wonder what she thought when the second one hit.