A Half Century of Living
The Maundy Monday Newsletter - This Week in History May 26 - June 1.
It’s the unofficial beginning to summer, and we’re nearly halfway through 2025. If I haven’t mentioned it, my friends and I will turn 50 this year or hit that milestone next year.
Case in point, my best friend turned 50 last week, and I turn 50 in 228 days or so—not that I’m counting.
So, turning 50 continues to be the hot topic of discussion in my world. I have committed to focusing on how I want to feel when I actually turn 50 and the moment of being, God willing, a half-century old.
One of the presents of turning 50 next year is for Anonynmous and me to take a trip to Seattle and Vancouver when the United States and Canada host the soccer World Cup. I’ve never been to either city, but I went to Germany with a bunch of friends in 2006 when we all turned 30 that year. So let’s run it back twenty years later – this time – with wives!
Turning 50 has been a curious subject for me for a long time. Since I’m the youngest of five, I made a plan to visit my older siblings on their 50th birthdays. I think I made all but one, who insisted I not make fun of her for turning 50 on any social media platform. I kept my promise. But she turns 52 in a month, is there a joke to be had about that?
I'm not sure about you, but I can’t help but think about my parents and when they turned 50. Both turned 50 when I was a junior in high school. They had five kids from 27 to 17, and I think we all took a Disney Cruise that year. Nothing says 50 like Disney!
I’m bringing this up because Lauryn Hill was born on May 26, 1975. Hill is a fascinating artist to me. First of all, I didn’t think she was older than me. Second, I don’t hold her in the high regard others have when considering her legacy amongst other female rappers, songwriters, and actresses.
Hill was born in New Jersey and demonstrated her vocal chops early. She had many talents, including playing the violin, running track, and generally being a high-performing student.
I first became aware of her when she acted in Sister Act 2. I have no idea why I ever watched this movie, probably because it involved the Catholic Church. There was no doubt that Lauryn is an attractive woman who could sing, and one of the highlights of a rather ordinary movie sequel. A few years later, while in college, I experienced the musical group, the Fuguees, and then, after college, with her solo career. I liked Lauryn Hill and the music she produced.
Then, around 2003, I never really heard from her.
Many years went by, and from time to time, Hill’s name would be brought up as an all-time great artist. Hill does have the accolades to show that I am entirely wrong about her. She is the first woman to win a Grammy for Best Rapper and has collected eight Grammys - more than any other woman.
Even though Billboard named her the best female rapper in 2015, I will take Missy Elliot any day. Am I wrong?
Okay, let's highlight what else happened this week. As a reminder, these events celebrate their anniversary, ending in 5 or 0. Here's what I got:
1. Dennis Hopper died on May 29, 2010. The actor debuted in Rebel Without a Cause and had a storied career as the villain. However, he was robbed of an Academy Award when he did not win for his role as a drunk assistant basketball coach in Hooisers, a role he played when he was 50.
2. Clint Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930. The actor and director won two Academy Awards for the movie Unforgiven, in which the protagonist, Will Munny, is 50 years old.
3. Fake News was launched on June 1, 1980. Ted Turner founded the Cable News Network (CNN) at the age of 42 and transformed the way we consume information –constantly and without interruption. I wrote about CNN’s history back in the first year of OKH.
Speaking of interrupting the way you consume information.
Anonymous, Blue, and I headed west to the Shenandoah Valley for a long weekend to retreat, relax, and recharge. I am very grateful for the opportunity to stop what I’m doing and unwind.
Life has been busy for a few months, and all the stuff happening in DC has taken a toll on the family. I recognize we don’t have it as badly as others—the spy business is still pretty good, I assume—but that doesn’t mean the stress isn’t getting to us.
The prescription for stress is views like this while sipping wine:
Anyway, I hope you and your family could take some time to get away, enjoy the end of winter and spring, and embrace summer—with weather that was perfect around the mid-60s!
Have a great week. Thanks for supporting Okay History. One day I will be able to pick up my writing pace and deliver more mediocre history essays. Until then, I remain grateful to all of you!
Welcome to Summer!
Okay,
Chris
