Things a Half a Century Old

As long as we've been planning this adventure, Teri and I have referred to it as our "50th Birthday Party," since we wanted to do something very special with some very special people to usher in our second half century.

While we will have a sort of 50th birthday party one night aboard the Marjorie 2, no presents will be required, just your presence. And you can even pass on the gag gifts of Preparation H and Polident.

Teri is actually a couple of months older than I and will have already turned 50 by the time we set off for France. Her birthday is May 12th, 1959. My birthday is on August 26th, 1959, so my actual birthday will be quite the anticlimax after we get home.

But, here's the deal--Teri and I aren't the only ones turning 50 this year. I've been thinking of other people, places and things that also began in 1959 and are also heading into the second half of their first century.

Our boat, the Marjorie 2, was launched in 1959.

And Barbie was first produced in 1959, although she's aging a little better than we are.

On the celebrity front, the only person you've ever heard of that was born on the exact same day as either of us is Ving Rhames, who shares his birthday with Teri.

But there are plenty of other famous folks who are also turning 50 this year including:

Bryan Adams, John McEnroe, Danny Bonaduce, Fabio, Marie Osmond, Kato Kaelin, Emma Thompson, Lorrie Morgan, Emeril Lagasse, Richie Sambora, Linda Blair, Simon Cowell, Hugh Laurie, Judd Nelson, Randy Travis, Sade, Tom Arnold and Weird Al Yankovich.

So we're in great company, even though none of them have been invited to join us.

The Daytona 500 turns 50 this year along with NASCAR driver Mark Martin.

Turns out 1959 was a big year for minor sports as the National Rodeo Finals was launched.

The Grammy Awards were born in 1959 and the winner of Record of the Year was "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" (Volare), Domenico Modugno.

Alaska and Hawaii were "born" into the Union in 1959 as they were admitted to statehood. In related, but unfortunate news, Andy Williams' "Hawaiin Wedding Song" was one of the top 100 songs of the year.

Charles De Gaulle was inaugurated as president of the French Republic, and Fidel Castro was sworn in as the big boss in Cuba.

The number one song of 1959 was "Mack the Knife" performed by Bobby Darin, "Gigi" won the Oscar for Best Picture, and a postage stamp cost 4 cents.