I think I was lucky to come of age in a place and time - the American South in the 1960s and '70s - when the machine hadn't completely taken over life. The natural world was still the world and machines - TV telephone cars - were still more or less ancillary and computers were unheard of in everyday life.

I'm lucky because my dad taught me to be frugal and save. And that's important because I want to know that I don't have to take an acting job for two or three years if I don't want to and that I'll still be able to make my house and car payments and buy food for my dogs.

When I saw all those other drivers I realized that they wanted to win that money just as much as I did. But I didn't have to worry. A tire came off my car and I was lucky I got it off the track.

Perhaps people and kids especially are spoiled today because all the kids today have cars it seems. When I was young you were lucky to have a bike.

I'm lucky. The best possible place in the world for training is Addis Ababa so I am home all the time except when I am racing. I like to be there near my family my kids also the real estate business I run with my wife.

I started cooking in kitchens right out of high school and I was lucky to work with a lot of great people but I had no idea it would turn into this. Of course no one should go into this business because they want to be the next Emeril.

I have a fine level of recognition in the business and among the acting community now so I consider myself one of the lucky ones. If I didn't think that there would be something wrong with me. I'm grateful and thankful for what I've got.

It's a real roller-coaster ride if you're lucky to have longevity in this business - you have to be able to ride those waves.

It is rare to find a business partner who is selfless. If you are lucky it happens once in a lifetime.

Citizens thank you for all your birthday wishes. I am 88 years old today and still lucky to live in the greatest city in the world.