I’m publishing this on my birthday. My 70th. birthday. Just seeing that in print looks sooooooo OLD! But my mind is set at a much younger age. Maybe in my 40’s, certainly no more than 50. Notice how those decade birthdays seem to stand out? Here are some of my memories over the years.
- When I was 10 I was all about playing with friends and watching cartoons.
- At 20 I had started working in my first career and about to meet my first wife – and my only wife of 48 years so far.
- By age 30 I had my family that included a daughter and son. We had started a part time photography business a few years earlier and were making the move to full time self employment.
- When you reach 40 you realize that you are middle age, but still young. Not like those old people in their 60’s and beyond. Kids were in college and high school. What happened to my babies?
- 50. Half a century old. Also the start of a new century. Since I was born in 1950, I had always thought of me being an old man when the year 2000 arrived. Well, it’s not so old after all.
- A I approached my 60th birthday I thought, “Now this is a big deal”! I made the decision to go sky diving as a way to celebrate and perhaps hold on to what remained of my youth. Quite a leap for someone who won’t ride a roller coaster. I loved it and was on a “high” for the next several days.
- I blinked once, maybe twice, and here I am…70. How in the world could the last 10 years have passed so quickly? I mentioned this to my surviving sister who is 13 years older than me. She said, “Wait till you see how fast 80 gets here”. I’m afraid to go to sleep!
My children are in their 40’s and my oldest grandchild is 20. He loves calling me “old man”. He doesn’t realize how quick he will become an old man himself. We are now a family of 12, a great son-in-law, daughter-in-law and 6 grandchildren. I’m looking forward to the next generation to come.
You see and experience a lot in 70 years.
- Harry Truman was President when I was born.
- The first McDonald’s opened in 1955
- Rosa Parks remained seated in the “white” section of a bus in 1955.
- John Kennedy became President in 1960.
- Alan Sheppard become the first American to go into space, 1961.
- Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.
- President Kennedy assassinated 1963.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy assassinated in 1968
- Apollo 11 lands on the moon, 1969.
- The Beatles broke up in 1970.
- The microprocessor, the foundation of modern computers introduced in 1971.
- Richard Nixon resigns as president 1974.
- Apple Computer is founded 1976.
- The wreck of the Titanic is found 1980.
- Chernobyl power plant in explodes spreading radiation over Russia and Europe.
- Hubble Space Telescope is launched, 1990.
- The first flat screen TV is demonstrated, 1995.
- Princess Diana killed in car crash, 1997.
- Columbine high school shootings, 1999.
- The fears of Y2K disappeared on 1,1,2000.
- September 11, 2001. Forever referred to as 911.
- Space Shuttle Columbia explodes, 2003.
- Facebook begins, 2004.
- First Afreican American, Barack Obama, elected President 2008
- Earthquake in Japan causes the second worse nuclear accident in history 2011.
- Covid-19 World Pandemic 2020
In some ways it seems many news events were negative, but that’s what makes the news. Certainly I’ve seen much joy in my 70 years and have many wonderful memories. Most are not world shaking events by any means, but they made my life better. Usually they have been oriented around family, both near and far.
My hope as I start this 70th rotation around the sun is that my family continues to be healthy, find joy in their life, never stop learning and know you are the most important part of my life. To the many friends I’ve made in my life, thank you for being a part. You’ve all had an impact that has made life a joy.
