Ray, Massachusetts, 1969. Three Reasons to Drink

Lottery night was a crazy night with everyone having a reason to get a little drunk.  One third, including, me celebrated that we were not going.  One third commiserated because they were going.  And, one third agonized because they...

Edward, New Jersey, 1969. No. 312: Love and Summer School

In the summer of 1969 I went to NYU summer school to get enough credits to quickly become a teacher. I returned to school for the fall semester and the 1969 (first ever) lottery. The night of the lottery we were on our way to a basketball game and listening intently...

Frank, Arizona, 1969. Double No. 1: 9/14 & The Letter "J"

I never won a lottery before, and haven’t won one since, but in 1969 I won bigtime.  I was a Number 1 – Number 1.  I won the jackpot!  How lucky was I?  The first birthdate selected was my birthday, September 14 and if that...

Elliot, 1969. No. 321: Mother's Tears

One month before graduation, my father and mother leaned on me to join the Army Reserve.   For the first time in my life, I witnessed my mother cry because she thought I’d be off to Vietnam shortly after graduation so I relented from my youthful view...

Tim, Minnesota, 1970. No. 27: General of the Guard

I was a senior at UW-Madison and received number 27.  I knew that I would be drafted if I didn’t enlist so I applied for Air Force pilot school and the National Guard.  The National Guard called first so I enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National...