By Mike Rainone
While I managed to sneak out of the country last week to quietly celebrate another birthday, my beloved family and friends still managed to make me feel real special, despite my age! After I successfully blew out all four candles in one breath, we all made short work of the diet cake, and discussed what wishes might be left on my ‘bucket list’ after managing to survive 68 years.
At this stage of my rather eventful and enjoyable life the most precious gift I have is my family, friends, and the ability to get around and mix and mingle with others, only at a slightly slower pace than I used to! Everyone tells me that I should have a ‘bucket list’, which are those life long dreams, wishes, and challenges that we would all like to achieve in our lives before we can’t! Of course the wish list of most of us is to be able to stay healthy and wise, and to have lots of opportunity to pamper our grandchildren. It should be a real joy for parents and grandparents to nervously watch them go through the same early growing up phases of life that we did, even though the pace and styles may have changed just a little!
Along with the usual hugs, cards, and treats, my family really spoiled me this time around. First of all there was a pair of tickets to a concert bash with the Beach Boys, a totally surprise afternoon at the absolutely awesome Cirque Du Soleil, and a great visit with my Dad and Jean, and my brother Peter and Carol. What more can I ask? My ‘bucket list’ has already been well blessed, and I can only hope that I can give some of that joy and love back to others, at least for a few more years, God willing? It is my wish to all of you that your ongoing birthdays and blessings will result in gala celebrations, and that you will find lots of quality time to accomplish your ‘bucket list’, and a whole lot more!
I was born on September 11, 1942!
My family presented me with a neat little booklet called ‘Pages of Time”, and it was really interesting to see what was going on when I came into this world in the old Village of Hemel Hempstead near London, England.
*At that time the average yearly income was $1885.00, a new house cost $3775.00, a new car was $920.00, a gallon of strictly rationed gas was 15 cents, and the average life expectancy was 62.9 years!
*In 1942 the second World War was brewing on all fronts, 488 ships were built, the draft age was lowered to 18, and United States President Theodore Roosevelt sent 100,000 Japanese to concentration camps and asked his congress for $53 billion dollars for the war effort!
*In sports the Toronto Maple Leafs actually won a Stanley Cup, the St. Louis Cardinals were the World Series champs, Joe Louis was the World Heavyweight boxing champion, and the rest of the big sports were cancelled because of the threat of war!
*At the movies James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy) was the best actor, and Mrs. Miniver with Greer Carson took the 1942 Academy Awards as best movie and actress. On top of the music charts was: That old Black Magic, White Christmas, Paper Doll, Rodeo, and Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!
*Although I didn’t care at the time, 1942 was when: Chevrolet had a national car conservation plan, Truval became famous for their fancy men and women’s shirt sale at two for $1.55, and the big inventions were the atomic reactor and the Dixie cup!
*Some of the other lucky folks born in 1942 included…Muhammad Ali, Barbara Streisand, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Hendrix, and Phil Esposito.
Greeting card rejects!
Here are some proposed verses for greeting cards that likely never made it to print.
*My tire was thumping, I thought it was flat, but when I looked under the wheel, I noticed your cat. Sorry!
*Congratulations on your wedding day! To bad no one likes your husband!
*Happy birthday! You look great for your age…. almost lifelike!
*I’m so miserable without you, it’s almost like you were here!
*Heard you’re wife left you, how upset you must be. But don’t fret about it, because she moved in with me.
Have a great week, all of you!!