Hall and Oates “Kiss on my List” was the number one song on the pop charts. Excaliber was the number one movie. Ronald Reagan was President of the United States and vowed to fight the Evil Empire. And the Space Shuttle Columbia landed at Edwards Air Force Base after its maiden flight. It was April 14, 1981 and I was 13, watching on my parent’s TV as a Shuttle returned from space for the very first time.
Thirty years later, Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO is the top song (Hall and Oates still are playing in Casinos, though). Harry Potter 
and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 is the top movie. (Excaliber is streaming on Netflix I’m sure.) Ronald Reagan and the Evil Empire are no longer with us. Barrack Obama is the President. Atlantis made the final landing of the Shuttle program this morning at 4:57 a.m. CDT. A landing that I watched in awe on my iPad. (I then wrote a tweet about it. A tweet about the Shuttle in 1981 would have meant a bird got hit during reentry).
As I watched in the dark, I remembered the 14 brave Columbia & Challenger astronauts who “slipped the surly bonds of earth, to touch the face of God.” Bless them for their courage and service to mankind.
On April 14, 1981, a 13-year-old boy watched in amazement as 1st Shuttle landed. Today, a 43-year-old boy watched with appreciation. Thank you NASA for the Shuttle program and thirty years of amazement. Godspeed to all who made the magic happen.
I remember staying up to watch Columbia take off for the first time. My ex got mad because I would not go to bed. It was an historical moment that I did not want to miss!
Of course I also watched while Armstrong planted our flag in the Sea of Tranquility!! I also remember John Glenn and his first orbit! I have seen alot of amazing things in my life and it is a little sad to see one end.
I’m four years older than you — not that much in space years — and I remember those things too. I was in Walmart with my son when the Challenger blew apart. As I passed within earshot of a radio broadcast (can’t remember if it was on the intercom or someone had a radio on) I heard the chatter but couldn’t make out what they were talking about so I called my wife and told her to turn on Fox News. Something big had happened. It was a very sad day for America but the overall safety record of the shuttle program shows our strength. America is still the best nation on earth. My understanding is that the shuttle program will be replaced by a non-reuseable craft (Orion?). Seems kind of like regression.