My visit was in the line of research. I wanted to know when I began writing this column and what the first one was about. So I became reacquainted with microfiche. All of the Daily Record archives are stored on this medium. I think I began the articles in 1983, so I began my search in the latter part of that year. It was like looking for a needle in a spinning haystack. I went through week after week of the archives. I learned that in 1983 bananas were selling for 5 lb for $1.00. A Chevy pickup sold for $5500. I remember at the time I thought that was outrageous. I don't remember what the price of auto gasoline was, but it was not long before that I had choked on $.50 per gallon for the first time.

The first article I found was 1 January 1984, I am sure it was not the first one and I discovered that in those early days it was not called Life's Like That. I had been looking for the wrong tag line. This article was headlined "Time For Resolutions" with my byline attached. The infernal machine gave me a renewed appreciation for the computer and, more precisely, a search engine to pinpoint a document.

This is by way of saying thanks to all of you who have encouraged me to keep writing the articles. It has been fun for me and so many of you have told me you really enjoy them. I frequently meet people who say, "I know you; you’re the one who writes that column in the newspaper."

Rowe has been very generous with my deadline. As long as the draft is at the news office by early Saturday morning it will make the paper. I try to send it by Friday but I sometimes barely make it. From time to time I come to the end of the week without an idea and admit to occasionally sending an old article, that I call a classic, usually one at least two years old. I have only been caught once. When Lucille proofs it, if she says, "I don't remember reading this before," I figure all is well.

The first articles were in effect advertisements. I was practicing as a licensed family counselor and thought if I could get some words of advice into the paper, people needing counsel might come to me, I don't think it worked but after awhile it just became fun and a challenge. I have generally stayed away from controversial issues, although I have touched a nerve once in awhile. My purpose is to bring a little humor and a little something to think about into your weekend.

I am currently in the process of editing a book; The Best of Life's Like That. It will include Uncle Nathan stories interspersed with the articles and some vespers I wrote some years ago. Watch for it.

For 23 years nearly every Sunday I have been privileged to remind San Marcos that, well, Life is like that.