Dale Says

For more than 20 years I’ve been writing summaries of what’s going on in my life and in the world around me on my birthday. Here’s an excerpt from 1995 …

April 24, 1995

On my birthday I’m 44 years old.

So here I am in my mid-40s! Over the past year, I’ve felt my impending age, more so than in previous years. Because of my knee problems I can’t do all of the things I used to be able to do, and it frustrates me. I guess the secret from here on is to concentrate on the good things in my life (a loving and tolerant wife, wonderful family, a terrific home), and to see how well I can deal with any limitations thrown my way.

Patty continues to be my source of comfort and sanity. She pushes me to be more and better, and encourages me through my rough periods. I’m very lucky to have found her.

My knee has stabilized over the past year, and I seem to be able to keep it that way if I concentrate on keeping it stretched. Having given up running and raquetball, I find I can still bicycle, cross-country ski, and hike.

Our house keeps getting better and better. Over the past year we added drapes in the living room (thanks to Patty’s mother), bought a hutch for the dining room, recovered the chair in the living room, and bought a new couch.

Molly, our calico kitty, is a great companion. She is very affectionate and seems to know when one of us needs a little comfort. She loves her house and spends a lot of time roaming in the garden.

We had several great trips this past year including hiking through Costa Rica, weekend trips to Seattle and Colorado, spring training in Pheonix, and a family reunion in Wickenburg, Arizona.

In the news, OJ simpson is suspected of killing his ex-wife and her friend last June. The trial is going on now and will likely continue for many months. It’s on TV every day and in the papers, and people are getting tired of it. Almost everyone thinks he did it, but few people think he will be convicted of it. His defense team (F. Lee Bailey, Robert Shapiro, Johnny Cochran) are the best money can buy, and they are using police incompetence as a defense. The jury has already been sequestered for more than 100 days, and they have about had it. It’s starting to look like it will wind up as a hung jury or mistrial.

Last week someone put a bomb outside the Federal Building in Oklahoma City and blew off the front of the building. Around 200 people are dead and hundreds more are wounded. The entire country is furious, especially since there was a daycare center in the building and children are among the dead. On top of the bombing last year of the World Trade Center, this has everyone on edge.

The Republicans won a majority of seats in both houses of Congress last November. They have offered their “Covenant with America” and promised to make radical reforms. The lead Republicans are Newt Gingrich (Speaker of the House) and Bob Dole (Senate majority Whip). The tide in the U.S. has really turned conservative.

The U.S. dollar has fallen versus the Japanese yen and most European currencies. Initially a problem for the U.S., it has turned into an even bigger problem for the Japanese, because their exports are now more expensive in the U.S. Japan has has its share of other problems over the past year, as first a serious earthquake hit near Kobe, and then a terrorist group planted a gas bomb on the subway.

Radio talk shows are the rage now. Everyone has one, including Rush Limbaugh, Jennifer Jones, Donahue, etc.

The movie of the year was Forrest Gump; it won nine Academy Awards, including best picture, best actor, best director, etc.