40 years ago ...

[Bill in Oregon]

Photo from when I was 40 years younger and smoking cigarettes like an idiot -- before my daughter was born. At this time I was the editor of a weekly newspaper in Southern Oregon. My ex took this. Boy I'd like to have a just a little of that hair back. I wish that was a sixgun in my hand instead of a Camel, then I might be immortalized on Paco's.

[piller]

40 years ago I was 21.

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

When did you quite Bill. FWIW you looked the part---an editor or writer. Good picture!

Yes, good days, I would have been 26 and in college.

[Crazy Horse]

40 years ago, I was 20 and having more fun than should be legal. :.)

[Bill in Oregon]

I quit when I was about 35 years old. Started as a college freshman, of course. I actually started out as a Lucky Strike man while my roommate smoked Camels. You could get a carton at the off-campus Safeway for $2.70, 27 cents a pack. We were outraged when vending machine prices hit a stratospheric 50 cents a pack. I smoked filters near the end -- more than a pack a day. Of course, I tried smoking menthols for six or so months before the menthol wore off, like most. I was quite shocked when my doctor told me I could still develop COPD despite having quit nearly 40 years ago.

[Walt]

Last February 40 years ago I went on my first date with my wife-to-be. Now we have grandkids and she's still as gorgeous as when I met her on an airplane flight from Lubbock, TX to Albuquerque.

[Ysabel Kid]

40 years ago I was 22 and still in college, having just changed majors. Other than the rare cigarette (40 years ago), pipe, or cigar, I was never a smoker. I have enough health problems now without adding to them.

[Lastmohecken]

40 years ago, I was 28 almost 29, I was a construction worker and had already been married 8 years. We celebrated our 48th anniversary this year.

[AJMD429]

.
I only smoked about one and a half cigarettes, when I was in 5th grade. The guy who brought the cigarettes on our camping trip had started smoking in 3rd grade, and died from a heart attack a couple days after they discovered he had lung cancer when he was about 58. The other guy pretty much kept smoking after that camping trip and has had bypass surgery but now eats only garden produce and venison, and refuses medications and lab tests and physicals. So far I'm not dead yet and I've had 28 40th birthdays...

[Ray]

Cropped from the penny-farthing velocipede foto.....

IMG_20260701_224737.jpg

Possibly the same helmet.....

IMG_20260701_225444.jpg

[Lastmohecken]

I used to enjoy a good cigar, once in a blue moon, along with a beer, but never really smoked as any kind of habit. It never really agreed with me, drinking didn't either. So, I never did either all that much.

[Bill in Oregon]

Ray, yes, same hat. Still have it. Like to wear it whilst shooting the Webley .177 revolver.

[samsi]

I'd wear a pith helmet, I probably even have a rifle that could go with it.

40 years ago I was in my fourth year as a Marine.

[piller]

If they help to keep the sun off of your head, then they work. 100° and sunny here yesterday. Sunburned scalp is painful.

[geobru]

40 years ago I was 35 and moved from Morton Washington to Coos Bay Oregon with my wife and three children.

[Bill in Oregon]

I used to hear tantalizing legends of stripers taken on a fly rod in some of the channels around Coos Bay. Only ever tried for them up at Reedsport, but with jointed Rapalas. Miss the Oregon coast.

[Farmerjohn]

40 years ago I was 40 years old with 5 kids farming cattle and hay, hunting, fishing and shooting on the Ouachita River in Arkansas only thing different today is 17 grandkids and 4 great grand kids. Moving a little slower but I'm truly blessed... John

[jeepnik]

40 years ago I was 40 years old with 5 kids farming cattle and hay, hunting, fishing and shooting on the Ouachita River in Arkansas only thing different today is 17 grandkids and 4 great grand kids. Moving a little slower but I'm truly blessed... John

Yes you sound blessed. But it also sounds like you worked for every bit of your good fortune.

[nwcatman]

40 years ago i was 35 and operating my 3rd mom n pop gun store. only went in the hole 100k to the bank. peso devalued and sunk me. yes, they could buy ammo back then. buncha tire dealers etc went under too.

[COSteve]

40 years ago I was 38, married almost 13 years with a 1 year old boy.