Come in here, Dear boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go far

Terrorism, political corruption, kidnapping, and the worst blizzard ever recorded started my 1975. The Steel Curtain of the Pittsburgh Steelers throttled the the Minnesota Vikings Purple People Eaters giving the Steelers the 16-6 win in Super Bowl IX. I wasn't paying attention; we had four feet tall snow drifts all around the house and Mom had tacked blankets over doorways in our house to help keep the rooms warm. Mom and Dad were concerned the propane tank fed our furnace would empty before the roads were clear enough to get a refill.

Just days before my 7th birthday The Who premiered their musical film "Tommy" in London - I wouldn't see it for another 15 years. UCLA won the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament by beating Kentucky 92-85 in a newly expanded 32 team field. My Clones were 10-16 and did not participate in the Madness. Some nerd (a term I recently learned from the Fonz) named Bill Gates founded a company called Microsoft.

Jimmy Hoffa was reported missing and seemed to take up a lot of news time though I didn't really understand why. Coincidentally, Giants stadium is under construction at the time.

I still struggle to remember why but my last semester of 1st Grade was not a happy one and all incations point to a personality conflict I had with our teacher, Mrs. Ulmer.

Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in the Thrilla in Manila but since I'm no boxing fan this didn't register with me. "Space: 1999" was an awesome new tv show that (in the Omaha market) ran inexplicably on Saturday afternoons instead of primetime. Chuckles the Clown died on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" which made me laugh almost as hard as the siamese elephant ad-lib on "The Carol Burnett Show" (yes, I am that warped). More importantly, my favorite show during Summer mornings and sick days "The Price is Right" changed from being 30 minutes long to its current hour long format.

I started 2nd Grade and took an instant liking to the newly hired teacher, Miss Levine. So much so that I demanded (and got) an invitation to her wedding. I did not get to attend due to prior committments (my Mom cut a deal with Miss Levine that if she gave me an invitation we would NOT show up and ruin her family-only ceremony). I still have the invitation.

The Reds defeat the Red Sox four games to three to win the World Series, a series Charlie Hustle probably didn't have more than a rooting interest in. The Kentucky Colonels defeated Indiana Pacers to claim the ABA championship. My mind was on tennis that year, though. My Uncle Jim got a home version of Pong, the greatest, most entertaining video game ever invented.

The Sweet's "Fox on the Run" was a number one hit, as was the all too catchy "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC & the Sunshine Band but the real moment in music was the Bee Gees making an unfortunate career change and starting to make music in the fledgling "disco" style.

The American Freedom Train stopped in Omaha and I got to tour 10 train cars filled with "precious treasures of Americana." Although there were items such as George Washington's copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase, and a rock from the moon, what I remember seeing was Dorothy's dress and THE ruby slippers.

Despite the turmoil throughout the world, 1975 was an OK year for me.

The title of this post is the opening lyrics from Pink Floyd's song "Have a Cigar" which was on the album "Wish You Were Here" released in 1975.

Be safe.