The Year Was 1968

The Year of Our Lord, 1968, was one of those I won't forget. It's the year I graduated college---barely. It's also they year I landed my first job as a high school teacher and coach.

Oh yeah,  the year, was also referred to as the 'Days of Rage' meaning a bunch of young kids wearing pea coats, Birkenstocks and flashing peace signs roamed the land wreaking havoc in the streets; The Weatherman and Bill Ayers. On the other hand I was a button down collar, Bernard Altman sweater guy.  I sported khakis before Jake from State Farm was a glimmer in his father's eye.

1968 was also a year of sickness even though it was only a passing story in the news. It brought us the Honk Kong flu. In a way I now believe I've been lucky when it comes to sickness. I've had the flu so many times I do believe I've built up an immunity to different strains.

On or about December 16, 1968 I was teaching at New Hartford H.S in Iowa. I recall it was a nice Monday morning and I was sitting with the principal on the front steps of the school before the start of the day. "I said, Gosh I feel horrible." The principal told me to go home so I drove the nine miles to Cedar Falls and fell into bed. The next I remember is waking up and asking one of my roommates what day it was. He said, "It's Wednesday", and then I passed out again. I awakened from this form of death on Friday morning and slithered out of bed.

Evidently I had come down with the Hong Kong flu. I was 22 years old and didn't go to a doctor. Basically because I didn't have health insurance.

I've also had the flu, bad cases of the flu on two other occasions, one in 1974 and one around 1998 that literally knocked me out. In '74 I had a wife to take care of me. In '98 I was working in Cincinnati at Proctor and Gamble on a sales call and felt the creeping crud come upon me. Cincy was two hours from our home in Westerville, Ohio. I made it up I-75 to Middletown after 20 miles of driving and literally fell into a Comfort Inn. I was in a bed for three days.

In 1968 one million people in the world died of the Hong Kong flu. In the United States one hundred thousand Americans died of the Hong Kong flu, mostly the elderly. There was no lock down. Television news people didn't blast the presidency for it's lack of action.(They were too busy with the Viet Nam War). Stores stayed open as did churches and I saw nary a mask.

I'm not making a commentary; just presenting a personal view of the times. No need to thank me.