1947 Stephen King - Author (Pet Sematary, Christine, The Duel, Misery, The Stand, Carrie, It, The Langoliers)

I read some of his book's way, way long time ago and I was young enough where they freaked me out, so I stopped reading them. When The Green Mile came out, Connie talked me into reading it and I did. It was a good read. Thanks, Connie.

1998 Florence Griffith Joyner, age 38 - US Olympic gold medal track star, was found dead at her home in Mission Viejo, California

She was so huge in Track, and it was always fun to watch her outrun everybody else. When she died it was a huge shock. She was so young.

1937 The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published

When I was young and married to first husband, he gave me The Hobbit to read. I was totally fascinated. I'd only read science fiction before that, and it really opened me up to other genres.

1957 Perry Mason, starring Canadian Raymond Burr, made its television debut on CBS, with The Case of the Restless Redhead

I'm still watching them. Sometimes with the sound off because I know the script.