by Sally O'Quinn

Created on: August 19, 2008

I turned 50 this year, so I figured this would be a good time to write something profound. You know, make some sage observations, evaluate my accomplishments thus far and measure myself against other icons reaching the half-century mark.

I'm in pretty good company, I guess. In 1958, the year I was born, NASA was formed, the Vanguard satellite was launched, Intel developed the microchip and both the Edsel and the peace sign made their debuts. Kids were introduced to Legos, the Hula Hoop and the Crayola crayon 64 pack. Celebrities born that year include Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sharon Stone and Jamie Lee Curtis.

So how are we all doing fifty years later?

NASA is still around, albeit in a much dimmer spotlight than during its heyday of the 1960s, with the space shuttle program scheduled to be phased out by 2010.

The Vanguard satellite is still traveling out in space, but no longer alone. It's estimated that between 600 and 800 manmade satellites are in the sky overhead at any given time. Obviously, Intel knew what they were doing when they developed the microchip all those years ago. It helped create the personal computer and all the household electronic devices which followed. We use them to cook our food, heat and cool our homes and to communicate with each other. In fact, until television began giving us Celebrity Poker, they were the most important chips in the world!

The Edsel, unfortunately, only lasted two years, due in part to its appearance. Some critics felt its vertical front grill resembled a vagina, something the public wanted kept under wraps in 1958. Now that I think of it, a vagina car in 2008 would probably be a big hit.

Still riding high in popularity is the loveable peace sign, having been adopted by a new generation of Americans as a symbol of protest against a new war. I can still remember my mother trying to explain the inherent evil behind the peace sign when I was a kid. It symbolized a broken cross, she said, and was therefore a blasphemy against Christ. (I now know that the cross was first used as a pagan symbol centuries before the time of Jesus Christ. So much for blasphemy.)

Legos are still around, and just as popular as ever. Hula Hoops can be found at most any large retailer, but I never see kids playing with them anymore. I did see a woman on the new "Gong Show" recently, who got about 25 of the colorful hoops swooshing around her body long enough to receive a score. I think she won.

However, I would

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