Back in 1982, there were ten significant events that occurred, according to peoplehistory.com:
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Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking album “Thriller” was released
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The break-up of the AT&T monopoly was ordered
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Argentina invades the Falkland Islands / Malvinas
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The first episode of Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC
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The popular science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” debuts during June
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Disney Futuristic Park EPCOT ( Experimental Community Of Tomorrow )is opened
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Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide kill 7 in Chicago
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The Mary Rose, flagship of Henry VIII of England is raised in the Solent
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The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC is dedicated
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The First Commercial use of Genetic Engineering is Launched when human insulin produced by bacteria is marketed
These events intertwined with my life in many ways. I clearly remember taking my 8-year old son to the mall for an event celebrating the premiere of E.T. I was involved in setting up and promoting a related meet and greet with Drew Barrymore, who was the same age. He spent the morning with the family, and developed a bit of a crush over the future star. He was also a big fan of Michael Jackson so Thriller was a popular tune in our home – to the point of excessiveness. The Jackson Five and David Letterman were fellow Hoosiers. Also, our first family trip to Disney World was around this time, so I remember the giant Epcot ball that was being built at the entrance to the new park. In addition, I would eventually become an AT&T stock holder through the subsidiary that I worked for a few years later.
The Vietnam Memorial was an emotional, late-night experience for me as part of a business convention years later. It reminded me how lucky I was to have avoided that war, ending the young lives of several of my high school classmates. On a lighter note, I still curse the safety caps on medication and household supplies that make them a hassle to open. We can all thank the Tylenol incident of 1982 for additional safety seals on plastic bottles that often require getting the tool box out.
It’s now 40-years later since these impactful events happened. Late night hosts have changed many times over, while Letterman has gotten more involved in Indycar racing. AT&T is still the world’s largest telecommunications company despite government intervention. Despite Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, his music and siblings continue to be popular. Disney World has expanded to four parks and water features. Drew Barrymore, currently 47, has been in at least 63 movies, three of those with Adam Sandler. Once more, countries are still invading each other and more monuments have been torn down in this era of civil unrest rather than built. Furthermore, genetic engineering continues to be a subject far to complicated for me to even discuss and makes my brain ache. Please pass the Tylenol.
I got a text yesterday from a friend enjoying a getaway to the Florida Keys. It spelled out, “I’m paying the buttercup tax.” I immediately went to the internet, wondering what he meant and not wanting to appear ignorant. On-line, there was no real reference to the phrase other than the dainty yellow flower that is apparently poisonous, so I wrote him back for an explanation. “It’s the price of happiness,” he replied. “We love the Keys!” My wife and I had just visited Key West for the first time together. She had gone during her college years, but I had never been. Our cost of going there was minimal because we took the high speed ferry and stayed relatively free at the Marriott. I’m always happy at a Marriott, especially if it’s on a beach. I never once thought about taxes.
According to an N Business article by Deepthi Nair, “the global average of the price of happiness is $85,000 a year, according to Expensivity, which calculated the cost of happiness for 160 countries by combining data from Purdue University’s Happiness, income satiation and turning points around the world report, purchasing power ratios from the World Bank and cost-of-living figures in cities.”
“At $143,933 a year, the most expensive country to be happy is Bermuda, while the cheapest is Suriname in South America, where it costs just $6,799, the Expensivity study found.”
“In 2018, the Purdue University study, which is based on data from the Gallup World Poll of 1.7 million people, found that there is an ideal level of money that could make a person happy – and it varies around the world.”
As for buttercups, my only encounter is through the song, “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations:
Why do you build me up (Build me up)
Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down? (Let me down)
And mess me around
And then, worst of all (Worst of all)
You never call, baby
When you say you will (Say you will)
But I love you still
I need you (I need you)
More than anyone, darling
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (Build me up)
Buttercup, don’t break my heart
[Verse 1]
“I’ll be over at ten”, you told me time and again
But you’re late, I wait around and then (Ba-dah-dah)
I went to the door, I can’t take any more
It’s not you, you let me down again (Hey, hey, hey)
[Pre-Chorus]
Baby, baby, try to find (Hey, hey, hey)
A little time and I’ll make you happy (Hey, hey, hey)
I’ll be home, I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh.
So, I still ponder the mystery of a “buttercup tax,” after all this research. “Although there are variations, quite often the flower is said to represent joy, youth, purity, happiness and friendship.” In the song, the reference is to a girl – his “baby.”
“Despite safety concerns, buttercup is used for arthritis, nerve pain, blisters, ongoing (chronic) skin problems, and bronchitis.”
We moved to Florida because there is no state tax, but certainly taxes on everything else. Why not a buttercup tax?
We’ve reached the 1980s when John Lennon was shot and killed, and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas was destroyed by fire. I was 29-years old, married for seven years, and with a 5-year old son. I was working at BJ Thompson Advertising in Mishawaka, Indiana on the Burger Chef account that was evolving into Hardee’s. Within a year, I would make a move to Ft. Wayne and back into the radio business with WMEE/WQHK. I remember a recruitment meeting at Doc Pierce’s Saloon with my soon to be boss who rode in on his motorcycle.
I spent the next four years of my life in Ft. Wayne before moving to Indianapolis in 1985. It’s really all a blur. Time has passed so quickly as I sit here writing 42-years later. I certainly wouldn’t want to go back and live it all again. It was hard work getting to this point of retirement, 5.25 years removed from the day-to-day work grind. Since that time, I’ve tried to write something each day – 1,980 posts over roughly 1,916 days. I’ve also run every day over this period of time, a streak I started 4,381 days ago.
It’s “Matinee Monday,” that might be interrupted with a home warranty inspection. With all our visiting guests, we haven’t seen a movie in six weeks. Our annual passes are about to expire, so we need to get there today and get them renewed. All the weekly traditions of movies, sunset picnics, and tourism have been disrupted with other plans. At least, the monthly Borrego Boyz luncheon is on for tomorrow and the Neighborhood get-together is scheduled for this Saturday. We have one last set of overnight visitors this week and then the calendar is clear until our Singer Island getaway in mid-April. In the meantime, we have two day-trips next week to see family and friends that are vacationing in Florida. Before we know it, we’ll settle back into our customary daily routine.
After nine days of entertaining guests, life is back to normal. I enjoyed seeing all my friends and showing off the Venice area, but I’m exhausted. Too much food and wine has me worried about stepping on the scale. Running with this extra weight only adds to this daily challenge, while swimming has been sporadic during this disruption of the routine. I’ve been to the ballpark, played pickle ball, been to a blues festival, ran a 5k race, went on an eco-tour, frequented numerous restaurants/bars, sunned on the beach, sampled wine, and sat in front of the TV watching tournament basketball. In the process, I’ve also celebrated an IU victory, suffered through a miserable season-ending loss, and went to a Beauty and the Beast performance. This morning I slept in a bit, struggled through my run, and got back to swimming a few laps.
It’s another day of round-ball action, as #3 Purdue battles #6 Texas for a spot in the Sweet 16 and a chance to spoil the Cinderella run of the St. Peter’s Peacocks. The Boilers knocked out Yale while the Longhorns overtook Virginia Tech. In other games of conference interest, Michigan upset Tennessee yesterday, while today’s slate for the other BIG survivors shows Illinois playing Houston, Ohio State meeting Villanova, Michigan State facing Duke, and Wisconsin tackling Iowa State. It’s a BIG day of basketball!
I’m back at the computer keyboard, banging out the highlights of the past week with friends. I missed a few events of the seventies in the process, with 1978 as the year smallpox was eradicated and 1979 was when the U.S.S.R. invaded Afghanistan, just like current Soviet aggression in the Ukraine. I hope we can soon see peace and the end of Covid, as they both continue to haunt my life with higher prices and social restrictions. Last night at the theatre, a group of neighbors were having a conversation during the intermission. They had all lowered their masks for the discussion, but the guy next to them complained to me when I did the same. It’s rare when a Florida venue has a mandatory mask policy, but this was done to protect the unvaccinated children and apparently was part of the actor contracts. Yet, they weren’t wearing masks on stage. This didn’t make sense to me, along with $4.09 for a gallon of gas, but clearly told me that things were definitely not back to normal!
Parker Stewart hit a three in the first minute of the St. Mary’s game to start the Indiana scoring. Sadly, these were the only points he would get all night, and to make matters worse more than two other shooters, Miller Kopp and Rob Phinisee, who both failed to score. Overall, the team showed their exhaustion and only put 53-points on the scoreboard. St. Mary’s went 10-21 from behind the arc and racked up 82-points in victory. This was Indiana’s worst NCAA tournament loss ever, eclipsing the 86-61 drubbing from St. John’s in 1999.
The “Party’s Pooped” on the Hoosiers, as they might have been better off not getting in the tournament at all. The first Mike Woodson season ends on a sour note and tired legs after five games in eight days. Talk of next year begins to slowly trickle into the conversation as players begin to contemplate the future. Will they come back or move on? What will happen with Kristian Lander who got very little playing time but scored the last bucket of the year? Will Trayce Jackson Davis turn pro? What about other players with remaining eligibility like Race Thompson, Rob Phinisee, Tamar Bates, and Anthony Leal? Will disappointing transfers like Miller Kopp and Parker Stewart find new homes or call it quits?
The NCAA tournament goes on without them. Marquette lost to North Carolina by 32, making the IU drubbing somehow look better. All the Saints won on St. Patrick’s Day, including the ultimate upset when #15 seed St. Peter’s beat #2 Kentucky. #5 Iowa who had last second luck against Indiana in the BIG Tourney failed to replicate this good fortune against #12 Richmond, bringing back painful memories of 1988 when the Spiders knocked off defending NCAA champ IU in the first round. Rutgers lost to #11 Notre Dame in one of the other play-in games, to give the Irish the opportunity to upend #6 Alabama and keep their St. Patrick’s Party going. Three of the nine BIG Ten teams had already bit the dust, as then finally the other 6 found a way to win their initial games, maintaining the league’s integrity. IU’s party was over!
On Selection Sunday, Indiana was announced as the #12 seed, ending an embarrassing NCAA tournament draught. However, with the 68-team format, they had to travel to Dayton for a play-in game against Wyoming. It was almost an insult to have made the field, but then forced to prove that they deserved to be in the 64-team bracket. To make matters worse, they would have to then travel cross-country to Portland, Oregon to face #5 St. Mary’s with little preparation time. As fate would have it, they also had issues with the plane and didn’t arrive until morning. If they could somehow get by the Gaels, then a third game in five days against UCLA would be the reward. So, a tired but healthy Hoosier squad arrived at the Moda Center in the Rose City.
Meanwhile in Dayton, the Wyoming Cowboys proved to be a tough match-up. It was a low scoring affair as expected with the score only 13-8 with 8:33 remaining until halftime and IU with the edge. At the horn, it was 30-25 as the teams headed for the locker room. Eleven Cowboy turnovers kept the Hoosiers in the game despite a typical poor shooting performance. Trayce Jackson Davis was dominant inside, ultimately ending the game as high-scorer with 29-points. Wyoming cut the margin to three after the half but could come no closer, as IU stretched the lead to ten at the 60 mark and went on to win 66-58.
The real dancing starts on St. Patrick’s Day, once the IU players hopefully get a nap. St. Mary’s is the favorite with a 25-7 record, including a 10-point victory over #1 seed Gonzaga. Wisconsin was a common opponent that beat both schools – twice for IU – but each was a winner over Notre Dame. With the play-in victory, the Hoosiers won three tough games down the stretch to finally stake an NCAA Tourney claim. Today, they’ll need the luck of the Irish.
1976 was the last year when a team went undefeated all the way through the NCAA tournament – “Your Indiana Hoosiers.” It’s a record that has held now for 46 years, but the Cream and Crimson have also gone through hard times since then, especially the last 20 years since they’ve been in the championship game and 25-years since they’ve won it all. It’s been frustrating right up to these last few games, feeling now that a dark cloud has finally lifted with their play in the BIG Tournament. Even though it didn’t turn out the way we wanted against Iowa, we still accomplished what we all wanted – a ticket to the “Big Dance.” We’ll know for sure after the Selection Show, but let’s reflect on all the really bad streaks we stopped this year:
Four consecutive losses against Illinois.
Five consecutive seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Eight consecutive seasons without a Big Ten Tournament Semifinals appearance.
Nine consecutive losses against Purdue.
Nine consecutive losses against Michigan.
19 consecutive years without multiple wins in a single Big Ten Tournament.
Granted, Wisconsin only added to our frustrations this season with two more close looses. Plus, Iowa ended our tournament run on a last second prayer. We even hit 60 first, but “The Rule” has some exceptions that make it interesting. We could have been playing Purdue for all the marbles. Wouldn’t that have been a treat for the basketball fans in the state of Indiana?
Would of…could of…should of – the story of this season.
IU certainly didn’t get any breaks from the selection committee. They are barely in the field as a twelve seed with a play-in game against Wyoming in Dayton, followed by a long flight to Portland if they win, and a match-up with St. Mary’s. If they somehow get by these hurdles, UCLA lurks in the shadows. It could come down to three games in five days for the short-handed Hoosiers who might be without Galloway and Geronimo. Regardless, it’s time to dance!
The Michigan game was like the changing of the conference guard, as last year’s BIG Ten Coach of the Year returned from an embarrassing suspension to the additional disappointment of a loss in his first game back. The boos were prevalent at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Michigan had won the last 7 games, dating back to February of 2017 in Bloomington and Coach Tom Crean, who was just fired at Georgia. Archie Miller couldn’t get the job done either, much like his woes against Purdue and Wisconsin, to mention a couple of Miller curses. Woodson is now in a position to become coach of the year and maybe the last two decades, with regard to Indiana success. Maybe the conference was premature in naming Greg Gard? What a turnaround we’ve witnessed!
The ILL-INI chant is very annoying, making me ILL, especially after four straight victories over the Hoosiers. The earlier meeting this season in friendly Simon Skjodt was anything but that, as the Blue & Orange battered IU down the stretch 74-57 and started a 5-game February skid. Then came March and two more critical losses to burst the bubble. “Suddenly,” as Don Fisher exclaimed things turned around in the most unexpected place – the BIG Tourney. Speaking of curses, this one dates back to Coach Knight. It did not exist when Mike Woodson was a player, so this was his first experience.
Michigan was first to fall and last year’s winner and this year’s #1 seed, Illinois, was the next victim. A friend texted me when IU hit 60 first but only with a 1-point lead with 3:23 on the clock. It was Trayce Jackson-Davis who got them there at the free throw line, on his way 21-points. Kofi Cockburn outscored him by two, but he held his own against another All- BIG center for the second game in a row, after being outplayed in their previous match-ups.
The game was a classic example of the “Magic of 60,” where IU got there first and held on to win. As I asked my friend who texted me at the 60-mark, “Do you believe in Magic?” He responded, “It’s the Rule of 60,” and once again held up.”
Next up high-scoring Iowa and another shot at revenge. They were the one team where Archie Miller had their number, beating them twice last year and once more in 2019-2020. The ILL-INI chant is now less annoying. Go IU!
It’s the last chance to make the Big Dance, as the BIG tournament continues in Indianapolis. IU was the #9 seed, playing Michigan for the second time this season. Both teams are on the tournament bubble, although the Wolverines are currently in while the Hoosiers are the first team out. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard has been reinstated to once again lead them to victory, as he did in Ann Arbor 80-62. At halftime in that game, it was 38-30, as Hunter Dickinson put them over the 60-mark with 9:29 remaining and a 14-point lead. IU finally got to 60 at 4:07 and soon cut the lead to 11, but never got closer. Dickenson finished with 25 and 9 rebounds while Trayce Jackson Davis was a miserable 6-13 from the free throw line and totaled 17 in the losing effort, overshadowed by Caleb Houston’s 19. The Hoosiers get a second chance for victory and hopefully will play better defense, especially against the three. Michigan was a sizzling 11-17 behind the arc. They also need more offense from Race Thompson and better three-point shooting than 5-19, as was the case in that first match-up.
If the Hoosiers don’t prevail against Michigan, they deserve nothing better than the NIT and a chance to play some teams outside the conference where the haven’t been able to effectively compete down the stretch or on the road. Indy should be like a second home for the Hoosiers where they beat NCAA Tourney bound Notre Dame earlier this season. Can the Candy Stripes do it again today?
It was another Tale of Two Halves, but this time it was a Hoosier Happy ending. A massive comeback and a 46-point second half made up for a lot of letdowns this season. The Wolverines easily reached 60 at the 12:54 mark with a 17-point bulge, but only scored 9 more the entire game, allowing IU to ultimately pass them 63-62 with 5:32 remaining. In that 7-minute span, relentless defense allowed only two free throws by Eli Brooks and caused 6 turnovers. Hunter Dickinson had only one bucket the entire second half and 15 overall, ten less than the first time around. Trayce Jackson-Davis led all scorers with 24, followed by Xavier Johnson with 17. Michigan was 6-20 from three point range, a vast improvement for IU’s perimeter defense since the previous match-up. It’s now on to the next round against Illinois and another chance to impress the selection committee with more revenge. Final: IU 74 Michigan 69.
The year 1973 was when I got married for the first time and graduated from college. I had to put my big boy pants on, cut my hair, get a job, and buy a more sensible car. I lived in an apartment by the railroad tracks that I carpeted using scraps from the mobile home industry. At least, I was finally twenty-one years old, working as a supervisor in a Styrofoam company. We would soon find out that there was a baby on the way, so the pants got tighter, and we looked for a bigger place to live. The Viet Nam war was coming to an end, so that was no longer a worry. My wife had a job at the local bank and all was well until I lost my job at the factory, I was replaced by a far more experienced supervisor from the main plant and can’t remember if I was fired or laid off.
In the meantime, we had bought our first home and a van, so we had to scramble to make the payments. I was out of work for several months but got help from my parents. A headhunter found me a job at a small newspaper operation in Middlebury, Indiana. My wife had started a plant business doing in-home parties and eventually opened her own retail outlet called The Hall of Ivy. The van helped us haul plants from wholesale locations, including Florida, but also served as a delivery vehicle for the Middlebury Independent and Crystal Valley Express newspapers that we published. I was selling ads, doing some artwork, layouts, and working weekends for a small salary. A year later, I found an advertising sales job at the local radio stations, WTRC-AM and WYEZ-FM, that became the basis of my career.
I worked in some form of the advertising business for over 40-years before I was able to comfortably retire. The peak of my profession was a six-year span when I was the head of two different television stations and their respective websites. My responsibilities during this time included overseeing hundreds of employees in sales, news, marketing, art, production, and accounting, while reporting to the “Corporate Gods” and keeping us actively involved in the community. In retrospect, although I enjoyed being the head honcho and the respect that went with it, my happiest times were just selling ads, while not having to worry about the crazy aspects of management. All in all, I climbed the ladder of success but the most satisfaction came somewhere in the middle of that climb.
