Ten Minutes Fast, Chapter 29, "He's Back ..."
On Christmas Eve 1968 Bill Anders took this photo of the Earth from his Apollo 8 command capsule as he and his fellow astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell orbited the Moon. Part of Anders' job was to photograph the surface of the Moon for potential landing sites for the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
The Apollo 8 astronauts, the first to leave Earth's orbit and circle the Moon, were to become almost as famous as the Apollo 11 astronauts, where in the Summer of 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon as Mike Collins was biting his fingernails in the command module anxiously waiting their return from the lunar surface.
But that photo by Bill Anders became the quintessential photo of our planet in space. On Apollo 8's fourth orbit, and as Anders was studying the lunar surface, he looked up and saw the Earth, this radiant blue marble rising above the lunar horizon alive in the dead blackness of outer space. "Oh, my God!" he said, as he reached for his camera ...
... the resulting iconic photo became known as "Earthrise" and it was reproduced on a postage stamp, featured on the cover of Life magazine's "100 Photographs That Changed The World", and it inspired the first Earth Day in 1970 ...
... the Apollo 8 mission was also made famous as the astronauts beamed back images of their home planet as seen from lunar orbit, read verses from the book of Genesis, and wished the people of Earth a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Anders passed away this week at the age of ninety-one. He took that celebrated photo when he was 31, and about 250,000 miles from Earth, a place that most of us, all of us, will never be but for that magnificent photo. Anders was quoted as saying ... "We had come all the way to the Moon to study the Moon, and what we really discovered was the Earth."
Last year, in an interview and reflecting on his photo's legacy, he said it showed that the Earth is "the only home in the Universe for us humans. It's too bad we don't treat it a little better."
Amen, Bill Anders.
(Author's Note:?This Thomas Baker novel is largely based on true events. Some chapters are preordained with creative license in order to move the story along. This story follows Baker's 'Sunset Playland', 'Sweet Land of Liberty', 'Something for Nothing', 'Exodus Afghanistan: A Personal Story', and his 'Burnt Bridges and Loose Ends'. All of these books can be seen, posted chapter by chapter in their original and unedited manuscript form in search of a formal publisher, on this LinkedIn web page in the "Featured" and "Activity" sections. Some names and places, and dates, have been changed for privacy, personal protection, and national security)
After breakfast at the SLC airport hotel, Ilene and Baker were driving home to Logan, about 80 miles to the north. It's a hot summer day, 90's, Baker's birthday in a week. He will be ... a year older. Fourth of July to follow with the neighbors and their fireworks driving them, and all the animals in the neighborhood, crazy. In Utah, they celebrate similarly on the 24th of July, "Pioneer Day" they call it. It's when the Mormons finally reached their Zion, and were totally spent and burned out from the long march from Nauvoo, Illinois and Brigham Young famously said, "This is the place." It's not widely known or documented, but someone in the rear of that group heard him said, "It better damn well be." Temps must have been in the 90's that day as well.
Ilene: "Tom, what do you want for your birthday?"
Baker: "Peace on Earth among all men ... and women, of course ... goes without saying."
Ilene: "No, really. The kids want to know too."
Baker: "Oh, come on ... you know I don't like to fuss about all that ... besides I don't really need, or want, anything. Just to enjoy the day."
Ilene: "You're no fun."
Baker: "No, I'm not. Look, I'm really preoccupied with other things. And you know what I mean."
Ilene: "I know. I just think you need a break."
Baker: "The President is looking at me and Ray for some special help on a few of the things he is preoccupied with these days, and I think that trumps my birthday ... excuse the expression."
Ilene: "I hate what that Goldfinger has done to you, and to the country. He's made us all embarrassed to be Americans, and in the worldview it's even that much more embarrassing."
Baker: "Yeah, and if he wins, that seals the deal. It's official ... goodbye America, goodbye democracy, goodbye middle class, free press, the first amendment and the rest of our hallowed Constitution. Goodbye Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC, the New York Times, and the Washington Post ... and hello Tucker Carlson, FOX, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post."
Ilene: "Are you helping the President with the debate coming up? You realize it's on your birthday, don't you?"
Baker: "Yes, I am well aware of that. Ironic, isn't it? And if you want to give me a birthday present, please have the President clean Goldfinger's clock and leave the debate stage with his tail between his legs."
Ilene: "Do you really need to help him?"
Baker: "I don't know what more I can do. The 'Don't Let Me Down' campaign that me and George Lotus came up with seems to be holding its own, and the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle hats are a nice touch, but they're not enough ...
... and the celebrities, Obama, all the President's supporters and advisors, are all shouting the same message about America and democracy. They are attacking Goldfinger and drawing the comparison between the two candidates ... and the media is trying to be "fair" to Goldfinger. What they are missing is that Goldfinger is a fucking monster! He does not deserve to be treated "fairly" because he's not a legitimate candidate. He doesn't treat anyone fairly ...
... hasn't anyone been paying attention the last ten years?! This guy is simply not "presidential", period. He's Hitler, for God's sake!"
Ilene: "You need to calm down ...
... why do you do this to yourself all the time, Tom? You can't change the world ... you can't control everything."
Baker: "It's not a matter of control. It's a matter of what's right. It's like a patriotic duty. A service for the Country. And I find myself in the unique position now to affect change. Ray too. My instincts are sound. Don't you trust me to do the right thing? You're either with me or against me."
Ilene: "I'm with you, Tom. Always. You know that. But I hate to see you driving yourself crazy over this issue. Not just with the election, but all of your and Ray's covert government work. I don't want to be a widow because of your stubborn ... integrity ... I was going to say righteousness, but no, integrity ...
... your books and weekly chapter postings on LinkedIn and the Internet. That's a lot of work. A lot of stress. Publishers won't buy them because they don't want political opinion. They want fairy tales. That sell. And op-eds are just like pissing in the wind. You should write books like Craig Johnson. Look at the success he's had with his Longmire books and the Wyoming Sheriff character. They've even made it into a television series. We love those. Your books are a blend of reality, strong and pointed political commentary, personal experience, and fiction. They have a good readership online, and to whom you've sent them, and yes, they've helped people, but maybe you should choose one genre and go with it. And get paid for it ...
... your 'Exodus Afghanistan: A Personal Story' helped to get Abaas's brother and his family out of Afghanistan. Good job. You really stuck your neck out for them, but what a heartache that was (see 'Exodus Afghanistan: A Personal Story') ...
... and I know your experience in Vietnam was difficult, and it has shaped your life and opinions on government, politics, and those who propose to govern, our so-called "leaders", but your 'Sunset Playland' memoir was supposed to help you get it all out into the open and off your chest, and mind (see 'Sunset Playland') ...
... look, I think that no matter who wins the presidency, it won't have much of an effect on us, our lives, our life together."
Baker: "But it might. And it might affect our kids, and their kids. And besides, it's just wrong to put that guy back into the White House ... and you know it."
Ilene: "I do. And I'm sorry. It's just that I'm worried about you ...
... how do you even think you can help the President, the country and world, with the debate this week?"
Baker: "Don't be facetious ...
... the President is being coached and prepped for the debate by his overly inept campaign team. I seriously doubt their competence. And he's getting all kinds of advice from everyone, from everywhere. Most of it well-meaning, and much of it good, but some of it bad. All balled up together, it may be confusing him. I hope not ...
... Joe is formidable. He's been to this rodeo before. My money is on him. He's a good man with a good heart and a good mind, and a good representative for America. He's experienced. He's "presidential" ... whereas Goldfinger is simply not. And Goldfinger knows it. Everyone knows it. It's painfully obvious. That's the comparison. And that's what I told the President. Joe was making his bones in Washington D.C. as a senator, doing the hard work, while Trump was living it up in New York City as a wannabe real estate mogul and playboy all on his father's money banging cocktail waitresses two at a time ...
... all Joe needs to do is just be Joe and let Goldfinger just be Goldfinger and self-destruct on stage at the debate in front of America and the world. Then the true comparison should be obvious. If you're for Joe, you're a good guy ... if you're for DT Goldfinger, there's something seriously wrong with you and you're a bad guy, like him. It's just that base and it's just that simple ...
... the debate is not a debate in its true form and meaning. It's a TV personality contest like 'America's got Talent' or 'American Idol' ... it's like the Kennedy-Nixon "debate" in the '60s. The good guy won simply because of his looks, and his calm and cool demeanor. JFK didn't even have to play offence, or defense, really. He just sat back and let Nixon self-destruct in front of the camera. This "debate" could be the turning point for Joe in this election's momentum."
Ilene: "Okay, yes, I totally agree with all that. But a little divine intervention would help too ...
... and how is Jerome working out as VP? We're not hearing much from him."
Baker: "Jerome is great. He will be a big help in the coming weeks. He'll jump into this as soon as he finds his voice and platform."
Ilene: "... Speaking of divine intervention, what is the latest news on George Phillips? That whole thing is such a mystery to me. And that letter from him ... what is that all about? And what's with the thing about setting your watch ten minutes fast? Where and who the hell is he?"
Baker: "It's complicated. You know that. You know George is not like us, I mean he's not from around here, if you know what I mean. But he's proven himself to be a good friend and ally, and a very competent and useful force for good ... as opposed to the evil we have been dealing with, including Goldfinger ...
... the Georgetown Police think me and Ray had something to do with George's apparent death and the subsequent disappearance of his body. The CIA and FBI are and have always been suspicious, and jealous, of Ray's and my relationship and security clearance with the President. And his campaign team hates us. I feel like we are always running between the raindrops trying not to get wet ...
... I think George will show up, somehow, someway. Maybe in some different form. But he'll be back. Because we need him. Like Gabe Kotter ..."
(reference is to the '70s sitcom 'Welcome Back Kotter' and that famous show's intro song of the same name by John Sebastion and the 'Lovin' Spoonful'. The show is about a teacher who returns to his former inner city high school. Baker relates to this because he went to that high school ... see link below)
As Baker and Ilene pull into their driveway in Logan, they see an old man sitting on their front steps. They are taken aback and stop and stare at him wondering who this grizzled old geezer is. They don't recognize him at first, he's dressed in what looks like work clothes of some sort. Jeans, a T-shirt, work boots ... but the 101st Airborne Eagle 'Don't Let Me Down' Cap gives him away.
Then, in perfect unison, they both say ... "George? It's George!"
Ilene follows with, "Happy birthday, Tom."
Baker says, "And here's your divine intervention."
At that very same moment, 6,000 miles away in Corfu, Greece, Jimmy Ayvaliotis and his son, Marty, and Jimmy's missing fishing crew are being welcomed home by their families. They've been missing for over a year. After all the kissing and hugging, Jimmy's mother has only one word to say ... "Aπ?κοσμο?" which means "otherworldly" (see 'Burnt Bridges and Loose Ends') ...
... and on some distant planet in a galaxy far, far away, aka Ben Hooper, Kahil and Dr. Helen "Pussy" Galore are wondering how they got there and are conspiring on how they will return to Earth, and to America, to continue their sinister ways with our government ...
... evil is relentless, it never sleeps ...
"The people must remain ever vigilant against tyrants masquerading as public servants." -- George Washington
Don't let him down.
.....
Back in Logan,Utah, Ilene and Baker hardly recognize George. He's older.
George: "Didn't recognize me did you? That's why the hat. Great hat, Tom."
Baker: "The Screaming Eagle and the 'Don't Let Me Down' campaign is me and George Lotus. My son-in-law did the hats for us ... at cost."
George: "I know, Tom. I know that ..."
Baker: "What the hell happened to you? You're ... older ..."
George: "Time travel's a bitch. Einstein had a few things wrong. But I'm back."
Ilene: "He's back. But who is he?"
Baker (almost to himself): "Doesn't matter. Welcome back ..."
John Kushma is a communication consultant and lives in Logan, Utah
'Welcome Back' by John Sebastian and 'The Lovin' Spoonful'