DOUBLE DIGIT YEARS OF MY LIFE

I WAS 11 IN 1955.

I LIVED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. O.U. WON EVERY GAME AND AND I SAT IN THE SOUTH END ZONE FOR EVERY HOME GAME. IT WAS CALLED THE THE BIG 7 AT THAT TIME. THEY WON THE ORANGE BOWL AND BUD WILKINSON WAS THE COACH. I FINISHED 5TH GRADE AND STARTED 6TH GRADE AT MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WAS PLAYING TROMBONE WITH THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND AS A SIXTH GRADER. I WAS IN BOY SCOUTS AND A FIRST CLASS AND I ATTENDED THE NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE IN VALLEY FORGE, PA. OUR FAMILY DROVE TO LOS ANGELES FOR THE ROSE BOWL GAME AND OHIO STATE DEFEATED USC ON THE FIRST DAY OF 1956.

FAVORITE MUSIC: BOOMER SOONER, OKLAHOMA, THE MUSICAL

I WAS 22 IN 1966.

I GRADUATED FROM EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY. I LEFT PORTALES IN MY 66 PONTIAC LEMANS AND DROVE TO CHICAGO TO BEGIN MEDICAL SCHOOL AT NORTHWESTERN. I LIVED IN ABBOTT HALL ON THE SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. MY FIRST YEAR IN CHICAGO IT SNOWED LIKE NEVER BEFORE, INCLUDING 23" IN 29 HOURS ON JANUARY 27, 1967. I GOT A 90 ON MY FIRST ANATOMY EXAM IN MED SCHOOL AND IT WAS A C. I LEARNED THAT TRASH CAN PUNCH IS DANGEROUS! I LEARNED ABOUT DA BEARS AND BECAME A BLACK HAWKS FAN. I LEARNED TO COOK FOOD IN A POPCORN POPPER TO SAVE MONEY TO GO OUT. WE ATE SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER AT A CLOSE-BY HOTEL THAT HAD ALL THE FISH YOU COULD EAT FOR $1.

FAVORITE MUSIC: THE ASTRONAUTS AND THE BEACH BOYS AND SOON TO BE CHICAGO.

I WAS 33 IN 1977.

I HAD BEEN MARRIED TO LALA FOR 9 YEARS AND LIVING IN LAKE FOREST IN THE "OLD WOODS" ON JERONIMO LANE. MICHAEL PLAYED K-LEAGUE SOCCER. I HAD STARTED RUNNING AND ABOUT THAT TIME RAN MY FIRST 1OK WHICH WAS CALLED THE LAKE FOREST "MARATHON". SADDLEBACK PEDIATRICS WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND STARTING TO GROW RAPIDLY. VANESSA TURNED ONE YEAR OLD AND MICHAEL TURNED 5.

FAVORITE MUSIC: CHICAGO, MERLE HAGGARD, EMMYLOU

I WAS 44 IN 1988.

I HAD RUN 4 MARATHONS (SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO, HUMBOLDT REDWOODS AND NYC). LALA WAS A LAWYER. I WAS COACHING GIRL'S SOCCER. SADDLEBACK PEDIATRICS WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND WE HAD MOVED TO BUILDING #3. MICHAEL TURNED 16 AND VANESSA 12. IT WAS OUR 9TH YEAR TO GO TO ALISAL AND WE HAD BEEN TO SNOWMASS FOR 10 SKI SEASONS.

FAVORITE MUSIC; CHICAGO, EAGLES, MICHAEL MCDONALD, RICKY SKAGGS

I WAS 55 IN 1999.

I HAD MOVED TO SEAVIEW PEDIATRICS. LALA WAS ALMOST RETIRED FROM LAW. MICHAEL WAS IN DENTAL SCHOOL AT UT HOUSTON AND VANESSA GRADUATED FROM RICE, ALSO IN HOUSTON, WHERE THEY LIVED TOGETHER. MY MOUSTACHE AND LONG HAIR HAD DISAPPEARED.

FAVORITE MUSIC: CHICAGO, EAGLES, MERLE HAGGARD, RICKY SKAGGS

I AM TURNING 66 ON APRIL 18.

I HAVE BEEN IN PEDIATRICS FOR 40 YEARS COUNTING RESIDENCY. I AM TAKING CARE OF THE BABIES OF MY BABIES AND I HAVE THE BABIES OF MY SON, MICHAEL, LIVING AT MY HOUSE. LALA IS ENJOYING BEING A GRANDMOTHER. VANESSA IS AN ASISSTANT PROFESSOR OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY. MICHAEL HAS A WONDERFUL PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICE WITH SAMMY AS HIS OFFICE MANAGER. SPENCER IS IN PRE-K AND PLAYING T-BALL. OWEN WILL START PRE-SCHOOL IN THE FALL.

THE DOUBLE DIGITS HAVE BEEN GOOD YEARS!!