My mother always reminded me that I was born on a lucky number — 11. Sept. 11, 1942. And for a very long time I thought she was right. But since that fateful day in 2001, I am reticent to mention, much less observe, my birthday.

Over the past few years when I visit doctors’ offices, and lately it seems like every week, I’m always asked, “birthday?” And I respond, “unfortunately, 9/11/42.” And the receptionist always answers, “oh.”

Last month, on vacation, while spending our usual hours at the Old Forge hardware store, I came across “Pages of Time,” a little booklet dealing with your birth year and filled with info on what was happening at that time. It was the only thing I bought. Wish I could say the same for my better half. Anyway, I thought readers, especially those in my age group, might be interested in what life was like 82 years ago.

Let’s begin with prices. Average income: $1,885; new car: $920; new house: $3,775.; loaf of bread, 9 cents; gallon of gas, 15 cents. My mom once told me that when I was born, it cost her $8.50 for a week’s worth of groceries. Other interesting facts for that year: inventions-the atomic reactor; Miss America-JoCarol Dennison from Dave Warner’s home state of Texas; life expectancy, 62.9 years.

Regarding the “arts” — James Cagney won the Academy Award for Yankee Doodle Dandy and Greer Garson for Mrs. Miniver, also the best picture. If you get Netflix, check out Cagney’s flick. Old hard butt’s dancing, yes dancing, is out of this world. The music from ’42 featured some classics. One, White Christmas, sung by “Der Bingle,” Bing Crosby, will be a part of the Yuletide season forever. Other notables were “That Old Black Magic” (Johnny Johnson),” Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” (Kay Kiser); and “Paper Moon” (Mills Brothers).

The sports world featured the following winners: Stanley Cup, Toronto Maple Leafs; The Derby, Shut Out; Heisman Trophy, Frankie Sinkwich (Georgia); World Series,St. Louis Cards; NCAA Basketball, Stanford; Boxing, who else? Joe Louis.

National news was headlined by World War II stories. 448 Ships Built in One Year; Roosevelt Asks Congress for $53 Billion for War Effort; Gasoline Rationing Goes Into Effect; U.S. sends 100,000 Japanese To Camps (yes-you read right); The Draft Age Is Lowered To 18. My Uncle Bobby VanSlyke, with written permission from his parents, left his junior year from Little Falls to enter the Army Air Corps. He was 17. The basketball star and honor student went on to earn a Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 7 clusters as a bombardier-navigator. He mustered out as a 1st Louie when he was 20. He wasn’t alone. Thousands of “kids” his age followed suit, some giving their all to silence the fascist menace; they were 18, 19, and 20 years-old forever. Four of my uncles joined the cause.

And speaking of the “Big One,” 1942 was a turning point highlighted by the following: Allied Forces Land In North Africa; Major Dolittle’s Bombing Raid Over Tokyo; British Begin Heavy Bombing Raids on German Cities; B-17s and B24s Begin Bombing Raids in France and Italy. Once America lent its might, materials and men to the conflict, it was all but a matter of time.

Finally, along with yours truly (yeah right), the following “famous” personalities were born that year: Roger Staubach (football); Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay (boxing); Aretha Franklin (singer); Wayne Newton (singer); Sandra Dee (actress); Phil Esposito (hockey); Tammy Wynette (entertainer); Annette Funicello (actress); Paul McCartney (Beatle); Angel Cordero (jockey); Barbra Streisand (actress-singer); Calvin Klein (fashion); Jimi Hendrix (musician) and President Joe Biden.

To all my fellow grads from the Purple and White (LFHS) — (e.g. Joanie Wallach Kohn, Tom Prestopnik, Johnny Viskup, my shortstop Rickie Ciletti) — and every other reader (Roy “Cordoon” Henry) born in the same year as I, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Don’t forget — 1942 was one helluva year.

Ray Lenarcic is a 1965 State University of New York at Fredonia graduate and is a resident of Herkimer.