Collins came to Detroit for some reason in 69-70. We were outdoors and a crowd was milling around. I left my family to explore, and I found Collins shaking hands with people, so I got in line. When I returned to my family, my dad for some reason didn't believe I had been able to shake hands with "the astronaut." I must have been a dodgy lad.
It was years before I understood Collins didn't land when his companions did. Whenever I imagine the disappointment, I get indignant on his behalf, but someone had to man the Columbia.
Then again I read a blurb somewhere that NASA really didn't know how deep the dust was on the Moon. They had a 67" probe on one of the LEM feet to make sure they wouldn't be engulfed before finding a hard surface. If they couldn't take off again, piloting Columbia would be the best role to have.