It's All In The 8s

For me, on a personal level, it seems that years ending in eight haven't been great.

As I recall, in 1968 a semi crashed into our family business with my parents inside.

It had a devastating impact on my family financially and it tainted a ten year old boy for quite a few years.

My father died in 1978, in the week between my mother's 44 birthday and my twentieth.

In 1988 I was let go from my last radio gig and then went to work for a company that sucks out your soul.

I turned 40 in 1998 and for the first time I felt mortal, which was proven later in the year when I had to undergo a spinal fusion.

2008 started with me turning 50, to little celebration and that theme continued through the year culminating with Chris and I ill over Christmas, with little celebration.

To say I am happy that it is now a new year is a major understatement of the young millennium and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Best wishes for better days!