A (Seventy-first) Birthday Blog

This is not the 71st blog on my birthday but a blog on my 71st birthday. 

It’s all my parents fault. I didn’t ask to be born.  But I guess I’m glad it happened.  At least it allowed me to write this blog. 

My parents were married (photo on left) on June 5, 1937 and I was born February 21, 1941.  That’s 1,357 days (or nights). What took them so long?  Maybe they were waiting for the right one (me) to come along.  Probably there is a better explanation.

A lot of other things happened in 1941.  Some of them – ok most of them - were even more important than me!

• The first gold record in history was released (Glenn Miller’s “Chattanooga Choo Choo”).

Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for his third term.

General Mills introduced “Cheerie Oaks”, later called “Cheerios”.

The first commercial FM radio station goes on the air in Nashville, TN.

Joe DiMaggio hits safely in 56 consecutive games, a record which is still intact today.

El Rancho Vegas, the first major resort in Las Vegas, opens for business.

Mount Rushmore is completed (after 14 years).

The fourth Thursday of November is officially designated national Thanksgiving.

Willis Motors begins production of a military vehicle which soldiers nickname “Jeep”.

And, most important, Japan launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

What present do you give to someone who already has everything he wants?  Well my bride had a great idea and to the right you’ll see me and Jonathan Meadows, co-owner of Cultivar Coffee Company, during my in-home Barista Training.  I’m already making much better cappuccino's but my Latter Art is going to require a lot of practice.

 

 

 

For the past several years, I’ve “ridden my age” on my birthday.  This gets more difficult each year. Will I be able to cycle 75 miles when I’m 75? It’s not as far fetched as many imagine. Last November, 80 year old Jeff Robinson rode 100 miles on the Velo Veterans Senior Century.  So maybe there’s hope. The photo is from last year’s ride. This year’s ride is scheduled for Thursday, hoping for better weather.

So who else was born in 1941? 

• Joan Baez
• Ed Bradley
• Bob Dylan
• Neil Diamond
• Paul Simon
• Pete Rose
• Martha Stewart

 

Susie Mumby (above) has a birthday today, although not from 1941!

 

This is the “official” birthday portrait with Brenda.  We are both healthy.  Life is good at seventy-one.