justplainbil

The 4^th quarter is starting, put me in, coach – I’m ready!

Many folks can identify with the sports analogy of four quarters, and that the fourth quarter is the last period to perform. Personally, I’m about to enter what might be called the “fourth quarter” of my life. I’ve been blessed with having completed three quarters. I have lived for nearly 75 years. I have marveled at the phenomenal wealth of social, cultural, and scientific advancements never before experienced in history.

For me, it’s as basic as growing up with a seventy-five cent crystal set radio – AM only of course. No television. The phone had a cord and had a party line – sharing your phone line with others. The phone number had no prefix (Sweetwood 2529). No computers. Not even electric typewriters. Or correction tape or White Out. Cars without power steering, power brakes, window handles, or FM radios. No eight-track, cassette, CD or MP3 players. There was a tube in every tire. No frozen foods – or even freezers (some neighbors still had ice boxes with weekly delivery from the ice man). No zip codes. Margarine was white in color as only butter could be yellow (the container eventually contained a bead of yellow coloring you can use to make it yellow)…and so on until someone reminds me I’m on my “back in my day” trip down memory lane. Besides, what good is it to have had those “old” experiences unless the lessons learned can be applied to the present day?

I’m also well aware of the fact that a man living for 75 years is a member of a shrinking demographic – 1% of males in the US as of 2010 U.S. Census. And, according to NBC’s Men’s Health site and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, my life expectancy averages a cool 76.2. One caveat I’m holding on to is that I live very close to Marin County, California, where the life expectancy is a whopping 81.6 years.

So, all the things I ever wanted to do, and that are presently within my physical and mental capacity, I’d better get to it as time is a fleeting. It’s the fourth quarter! And, I don’t really need a “coach” to “put me in”!

Today I’m kicking off my Just Plain Bill blog, consisting of a look back at selected experiences from my 75 years past – sort of stopping and looking back over my shoulder at those “streets and alleys” I’ve traveled in my life. I welcome you to travel along and comment as the spirit moves you.