To me, heroes don't get any more heroic than Buzz Aldrin. He's even got a story on his Web page that I wrote.
But the other day I posted a letter I received about a family's unfortunate encounter with the second man on the moon. The short story: A family bought EIGHT copies of Mr. Aldrin's two books. But when their little girl asked him to sign her Disneyland autograph book, he refused. Now he may have had good reason to refuse. Maybe there were contractual issues. Or maybe he just needed to move the line along. But, according to the writer, he offered no explanation.
Anyway, Buzz, you're still a great guy and if you decide to right this wrong, please let me know so I can write a story about it? Oh, and where can I buy one of those Rocket Hero hats I saw you wearing? Your Web site doesn't list them for sale.
Here's the letter with only the names removed and a few teeny style corrections. You can see the little girl's head in the corner of the photo below. Her mom doesn't want her identified, so that's the picture she's letting me use:
I'm the daughter of the man who wrote an e-mail to you regarding Mr. Buzz Aldrin. I feel
compelled to write to you to verify and clarify the events of that day.
My husband, a great aeronautic & history enthusiast, and I were so excited that Mr. Buzz Aldrin, an American hero, would be at a Santa Monica store doing a book signing.
We decided it was important for our children to meet, even if ever so briefly, an astronaut with such historical significance that we braved what could have been a parent's nightmare...bringing twin 4 year olds & an 8 month old baby to a book signing.
Before hand, we explained to our children who Mr. Buzz Aldrin is to America but made the story "4-year-old friendly" by telling them that he flew in a spaceship, like Buzz Lightyear, and landed and walked on the moon.
They were so taken by this story that they were willing participants in what could have been a very long wait. Before we left our house for the bookstore, our daughter ran upstairs to get, what I thought would have been her favorite doll to keep her company. She came downstairs clutching her Disney autograph book that she picked out on a recent birthday visit to Disneyland. She loves this book. In fact, there isn't a day that she doesn't show me this book with great pride.
She had all the big-wigs sign this book while at Disneyland. From Snow White & Ariel, to the main man himself, Mickey Mouse. She is in awe of all of these "people" and felt Mr. Aldrin's autograph would fit right in.
When we arrived at the bookstore, my husband bought 4 copies of "Reaching for the Moon" and 4 copies of "Look to the Stars (one of each for each child and one of each for my husband & me).
After about a 45 minute wait (not as long as I had anticipated), our number came up. It was our turn to meet him!! My husband handed all 8 books to him... opened and ready to be signed. I was taking pictures of him signing the books while I shuffled my kids near him to be in the pictures.
We were all so excited to meet him. Then my daughter looked at me and motioned toward her autograph book. I handed the camera to my husband and proceeded to ask Mr. Aldrin, in a sweet/light hearted manner, if he'd be so kind to sign my daughter's Disney autograph book. I explained that "all the Disney greats" have signed her book and that she'd really love to have his autograph in there too.
Without missing a beat, he said, "No". No explanation. No, "I'm sorry, I can't because..." No, "I'm sorry, I won't because..." Not even a, "No, I'm sorry." Just a solid, "No". My daughter was surprised & a bit confused.
We said our good-byes and our thank yous, but I knew I had to do damage control...after all, she was only a 4-year-old little girl who wanted to add Mr. Buzz Aldrin's autograph to her collection of her other heroes. Outside of the bookstore, I had to explain to our daughter why Mr. Aldrin would refuse to sign her autograph book (even though I wasn't quite sure myself) and proceeded to make it a "no big deal" situation. However, my husband and I couldn't believe what had happened. What a let down! An American hero? Not to her...not that day.
My daughter still talks about meeting Mr. Aldrin. I think she enjoyed herself, considering. We talk to her about what fun it was and how exciting it was to meet an American astronaut. We leave out the part of him not signing her book. (Maybe with time, she'll forget.) We also leave out the descriptive word, "hero".
You make the guy sign EIGHT books and you still complain?! Jesus Christ... Be happy he signed ONE book.
He didn't want to sign the Disney book. He didn't have to. As mentioned before Disney hasn't paid 1 cent to Mr. Aldrin for using the name "Buzz". Quit making it seem like it was all your daughter's idea. Are you only about sympathy? Do you live your life making people feel sorry for you? Who gives a crap if you asked in a "sweet/light hearted manner"? Do you need an explanation everytime someone says "No"?
Why don't you go back to Disneyland, find the Buzz Lightyear character, and have that guy sign "your kid's" book. Damage control done. I'm sure your kid would be more excited too.
The pitiful thing about all of this is that you STILL think you're in the right. Too bad you can't even tell the truth.
P.S.
The shirts are right here on his website:
Mr. Grossberg, quit saying "the little girl asked" when it was the Mother who asked....after he already signed 8 books.
Cancel out everything in this Man's life because he signed 8 out of 9 books? The ninth one being a Disney book he has nothing to do with?
Your 9th book didn't get signed and now he's not a hero?
I'm just trying to figure out your thought process.
No - Mr. Aldrin didn't "have" to sign the book. And yes he did just sign 8 other books - for which he received royalties in addition to his appearance fee. The point was that he couldn't be bothered to say anything other than "no" to the adoring public who have greatly enriched him since his flight. Courtesy is sorely lacking in our society and "heroes" should not be excluded from exercising it. Unfortunately, self-righteousness and spitefulness like yours, "good for buzz", are too common.
I would get ONE book signed, keep the line moving, and understand that no means simply "no" sometimes. I would also call that common courtesy.
You're lacking in that department, big time.
You can call that "self-righteousness" if you want to.
To think for everything this man has accomplished, you and your family get bent out shape for this? HE SIGNED EIGHT OF YOUR BOOKS!! When I read "old geezer", and "jerk" as two descriptions for this American HERO....that's when my "spitefulness" came out.
You feel so "compelled" to bash him and all...
Why do you feel, after he signed 8 books, that he needed to offer and explanation to you? Do you understand the meaning of "No"? Do you understand that MAYBE he didn't want to get into it with you and he thought "No" should be enough? I think you should learn the meaning and also teach those twins and the little girl too while you're at it.
Who do you think you are? Let me guess...You're one of those that thinks he could throw around some money and everyone bows down? 8 books can easily go over 200 bucks. Is that how much is costs to be king-of-the-book-signing. Even the Author himself must answer to your holiness?