A spaceship full of fuzzballs, a bright red Charger, and the owl that never could finish counting.

Evening, friend. Jack Reynolds checking in.

December 29 always feels like that quiet stretch when the leftovers are gone and we are just waiting for the ball to drop.

Stick close for that bright red Dodge Charger my brother would have traded his right arm to drive, and for the orange roof restaurant where we always begged to stop. Then we will end with a quiet memory of fresh linens that feels just like home.

Brings it all back, doesn’t it?

On December 29, 1967, Captain Kirk got buried in fur during “The Trouble With Tribbles.” We laughed out loud watching them spill out of that grain bin. The crew sewed hundreds of those fuzzballs by hand, and it became the most famous episode of the run. Click to see how they made them move.

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T in Bright Red was the meanest looking car on the block. Base price was about $3,480, but today a 440 Magnum model can easily hit $85,000. That “Coke-bottle” shape and hidden headlights stopped traffic dead. My neighbor washed his twice a week just to show it off. Click for the factory specs and the auction climb.

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That orange roof meant 28 flavors of ice cream and fried clams to any kid in the backseat. John Margolies snapped this Milford, Connecticut, location in 1978 when Howard Johnson’s was king of the turnpike with over 1,000 spots. Today, the restaurants have vanished, but I can still taste that peppermint stick. Click for the full photo and the roadside memories.

“How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” first aired in 1970, and Mr. Owl never did give a straight answer. It became one of the longest-running commercials in history, airing for over 50 years. Click to watch the classic cartoon and see if you can count past three.

Ralph Macchio crane-kicked his way into history in 1984 as Daniel LaRusso, becoming the face of the underdog. While he didn't make a fortune on that first film, his return in Cobra Kai has reportedly paid him millions per season. He barely seems to age, does he? Click to track his full career path and what he is doing now.

Tonight’s “Your Memory” comes from Sarah in Michigan, remembering a quiet night in 1968. She sat on the shag rug watching her mom iron white linens for the New Year’s party. The steam hissed, the room smelled like spray starch, and the furnace rumbled in the basement. It is those quiet chores that made a house feel safe.

Tonight’s Quote comes from John Wayne, who said, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” My dad lived by that logic. It reminds us that being brave isn’t about having zero fear. It is about doing the work even when your knees shake. You can learn more about him here. Click to read about the man behind the legend.

See you tomorrow. Same time, same station.

– Jack

Images are AI-generated or sourced from public-domain archives. Reader photos used with permission.