12/30/2021
In the front of a Flying Rhinoceros book you will almost always find an introduction by an individual who is an expert on the book’s theme. We were convinced that our books needed credibility with educators, children and parents if they were to be accepted as educational tools for the classroom. It stood to reason then that we would need to get credible experts to help us introduce the theme and book if we were to succeed on the national level.
In the beginning, when we were focusing on the local markets we had had some minimal success getting credible experts to help us write introductions for our books. Our oceans book had an introduction by a local marine biologist and the solar system book had an introduction by the president of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. For the national release, however we needed bigger name recognition.
Our first attempt at getting a big-name introduction was for our book about the solar system. Our strategy was to get an astronaut to help us. After all, who better to write about outer space then someone who has actually been there?
We wrote to quite a few astronauts and we were turned down by all of them. We had about two weeks before we were to reprint our books for a national release.
I was about ready to give up when Mike called me early one morning. He said he had been feeding his son Ben breakfast when he had seen something amazing. He had seen a television commercial advertising an event where Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was going to be signing autographs at George Morlan Plumbing Supply in Tigard, Oregon. That fact alone was extremely bizarre.
Why would Buzz Aldrin be signing autographs in Tigard, Oregon?
Why was his signing autographs at a plumbing supply warehouse?
Why now?
I have since learned not to ask why.
Now when odd things happen I just smile.
In a last gasp effort to get an introduction by a big name astronaut I gathered a set of our books and typed up a quick cover letter explaining my situation. I drove as quickly as possible to George Morlan Plumbing Supply and I got into line. I arrived about an hour before Mr. Aldrin was to begin signing autographs. There were already about 150 people in line. I stood patiently in line watching the people. There were grandparents, parents and children standing in line waiting to meet the second man to walk on the moon. They all had memorabilia commemorating one of the greatest events to take place in the history of mankind. The Apollo 11 moon landing.
I had an armful of children’s books.
A small door in the back of this massive plumbing showroom opened up and a man about eight feet tall wearing coveralls emerged. He stood in front of the door and cleared his voice.
“Ladies and Gentlemen…please help me welcome Buzz Aldrin.”
What happened next gave me goosebumps. The three hundred people waiting in line stepped forward and began applauding. The clapped and cheered and began chanting USA, USA, USA. It hit me at that point that I was about to meet a legend. I was going to meet an American hero.
A very small man with white hair bounced through the door like a gameshow host bounding onto his stage. He gave a wild wave and the crowd responded with a roar. I spent the next hour living through the most surreal event of my life. I found myself waiting in a line that was weaving in and out of an ocean of pastel toilets in order to meet the second man to ever walk on the moon.
I finally reached the small table that was inf front of Mr. Aldrin. I smiled and told him my story. I wanted to help educate children about different topics and make that experience fun. In order to gain credibility, I needed an astronaut to write an introduction for children all about outer space. Mr. Aldrin signed my photo and told me politely that he was way too busy to write an introduction. I dropped a full set of our books and my card on the table and I thanked him for his time. I made one last effort to get Mr. Aldrin to write the introduction but was quickly grabbed by one of the gigantic plumbing goons standing next to Mr. Aldrin. He ushered me quickly out the door.
I went home dejected. I spent the rest of the day working on our book. You need to understand that in the early days of Flying Rhino our offices were in an extra bedroom in our very small home. I got up early the next morning and grabbed a cup of coffee. To my surprise, sitting on our fax machine (yes… that’s how long ago this happened) was a mocked-up introduction I had written for Mr. Aldrin covered in his hand-written notes.
This was the day I learned that you have to pursue ideas no matter how crazy they may seem and how far out of reach they may feel.
Mr. Aldrin and I went back and forth on the introduction until it was approved. One evening as we worked on the book, I walked into my house to find my wife on the phone. I heard her say… “You are not” and she hung up. Who was that honey? I asked. She replied that it was one of my idiot friends pretending to be Buzz Aldrin.
I grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Buzz. He answered the phone and I quickly apologized. He replied… “No problem it actually happens all the time.” As I went to hang up the phone I heard Buzz’s wife in the background yell… “Buzz it’s Tuesday the garbage has to go out. It’s nice to know that even the second man on the moon has to take the garbage out.
