Magnificent Desolation_ The Long Journey Home From the Moon - Buzz Aldrin [135]
Lisa went back home, and Lois scheduled another dentist appointment for me early Monday morning. But on Sunday she simply left me alone. She and Lisa went house-hunting, looking for a new home for Lisa. Lois didn’t call, she didn’t prepare any meals, she simply left, and stayed that night with Lisa.
When Lois and Lisa returned on Monday, Lisa gave me a handwritten letter she had penned to me over the weekend. “Please read this,” she asked. In the letter, Lisa expressed her heartfelt support of me, but also her honest concerns. Basically, her letter said, “Buzz, it is your choice; if you don’t want to be involved in this sort of activity, you don’t have to be. If you don’t wish to participate in speaking engagements and other events that give you an opportunity to promote your ideas, we don’t need to pursue this sort of business, and I can go find another job.” Lisa had been a rock musician and a successful entertainment law attorney before coming to work full-time for Lois and me, and had refocused her entire career to help me in all my commercial endeavors. In her own way, Lisa was making it clear that the choice was mine, that nobody was imposing the family business on me. Perhaps just knowing that my independence was not being squelched made my acquiescence to Lisa and Lois a little easier.
Lois changed our flight to China to Monday night. The sponsors had shifted my speech from the opening to the closing. But as a consequence, they couldn’t get the first-class tickets that they had originally arranged for us. We would fly business class all the way to China.
“We’ll be there with you and for you each step of the way,” Lois encouraged me.
“Okay, fine,” I answered. “But after the speeches, I’m not doing anything, no sightseeing, no social events, nothing. I just want to relax in the hotel.”
“All right, that is okay.”
We boarded our flight to Hong Kong on Monday, May 1, and on Wednesday afternoon I fulfilled the first engagement, enjoying my time on stage, and speaking extemporaneously for most of my keynote. The audience and the sponsors seemed to love it, and gave me a great ovation. During the second engagement, I stayed closer to a more scripted presentation, and that event had a very successful outcome as well. We stayed a few extra days in China, flew to Beijing, and I actually conceded to do a bit of sightseeing, especially when our hosts arranged a private tour of the Forbidden City, where we viewed the inner sanctum of the City and entered the royal bedchambers that few other Americans have been privileged to see. That night our hosts treated us to an elegant dinner at the China Club. We were treated royally, and what could have been a disaster turned into a trip of a lifetime because of Lois’s absolute confidence in me, and her dogged determination to overcome any actions that might be self-destructive on my part.
One of the important realizations for both of us that came out of this experience was that I could rise up and perform in spite of feeling blue—and even be inspiring to others. I was beginning to realize that I could transform from a downward spiral to my usual energetic and productive self. Sure, such challenging moments may arise in the future. But the good news is that such occurrences have become rare, and have not interfered with my productivity. Lois and I have learned to recognize the symptoms of approaching depression, and we are committed to making sure that every day is a good day, no matter how external events affect our lives.
OF ALL MY endeavors, I am happiest when working on space projects—especially space tourism. I want everyone to enjoy the thrill of space travel. That’s why I was very pleased when I learned