1979...THE YEAR IN REVIEW!

"Dad, I'm doing all the work while you just stand there with the camera...there's something seriously wrong with this picture!"

As 2009 comes to a close, it behooves us (when's the last time you were behooven,eh?) to wind back the clock 30 years to see what else, besides the birth of The Scorekeeper, took place in that auspicious year of 1979. It was proclaimed by UNESCO to be 'The International Year of the Child'...a very fitting proclamation indeed...for after 10 years of 'wedded bliss to the barren miss', Diane and I were ready to be, in the words of my shoe salesman hero, Al Bundy..."Married with Children"!

And so, on July 3,1979, Philip James Thiessen was born.

He was born meek and mild...our 'miracle child',

A wonderful sight to behold -

He's brought us much joy, this remarkable boy;

Could that be why I'm bent, bald, and old?

Ah, but once again, I digress. Much more happened in 1979 that demands our attention.

Have a look see!

Born in 1979: Heath Ledger, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Kate Hudson (the beautiful daughter of Goldie Hawn). Just think...with a bit of luck, the proper geographical placement...and a heap of money...Kate could have been my daughter-in-law!

Died in 1979: John Wayne

Prime Minister of Canada in 1979: Joe Clark...after defeating Pierre Trudeau in June (I asked Philip if he knew who Joe Clark was...he thought a moment, then made some reference to Superman. Nah...not even close!)

President of the United States in 1979: Jimmy Carter

Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979: Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman PM

Headline News in 1979: 63 American citizens were held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Iran...only to be heroically freed by Canada's Ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor, a few months later.

Near Nuclear Disaster in 1979: Three Mile Island incident in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Great News in 1979: Camp David Peace Treaty signed between Egypt and Israel

World's population in 1979: 4,453,831,714

By 2010 the population has increased to 6,848,932,929 (see what Diane and I started!)

Popular TV Shows in 1979: M*A*S*H, The Waltons, Happy Days, Charlie's Angels, Dallas, and Mork & Mindy

Chinese Declaration in 1979: The 'one child per family' rule was instituted in China to control the exploding population in that country (if the above picture is any indication of what was happening...perhaps a total ban should have been implemented!).

Shocking News in 1979: It actually snowed (for 30 minutes) in the Sahara Desert! (don't believe me?...look at the Pyramid!)

Great Inventions in 1979:

1) The Snowboard

2) The Sony Walkman

3) The Trivial Pursuit Board Game

The Price of Gold in 1979: 462.50 an ounce

Today it's over 1100.00

Price of Oil in 1979: 24.00 a barrel

Outrageous News in 1979: The YMCA actually sued The Village People for using their name in one of their songs. By the way, the group is still going strong today.

Premiering in 1979: The Dukes of Hazzard (1979 - 1985)

Philip owns every season of 'The Dukes'...watches them faithfully and regularly...sings the opening song along with Waylon Jennings, at the top of his lungs...letting us know that all is well in Hazzard County...and in Philip's world!

Debuting in 1979: Garfield

Disturbing News in 1979: The California Angels handed the Toronto Blue Jays one of their worst defeats...trouncing them 24 -2! (for some strange reason Philip cried a lot that day...he was 2 months old...now we know why! He cried with joy years later as his beloved Jays won back-to-back World Series Championships!).

Nothing to do with 1979: Just thought he looked 'cool' in this picture! (Indiana Jones came along in the '80s).

Remarkable Feat in 1979: Darryl Sittler scored 6 goals in one game! (even that wasn't enough to convince Philip to cheer for the Leafs...he's a Red Wings fan through and through!

Stanley Cup Champions in 1979: The Montreal Canadiens (just couldn't seem to find an appropriate picture (heeheehee)...Philip would certainly approve of this one!).

So there you have it! 1979...a great year all around!

We look back and smile, what a wonderful child,

To be blessed with a son...'solid gold'!

Oh, we've had some tough times - on our nerves he oft grinds;

Could that be why I'm bent, bald, and old?

"I can 'Harley' wait for Christmas...how about you?"