There was an old woman who wrote
Words of wisdom and wit in a note
"ATT-i-tude! said the sage
Means more than your age"
Last seen, floating away on her boat …
~ L. Rochelle, May 2022
Some Days, 39ers, I Just Want to Drift Away …
It always takes longer than I expect, hope, and to finally finish my blogs (I maintain two others). And this one, being my “redheaded stepchild” is always last. But 39ers, as much as I’d like to just drift away from it all some days, I plug along until done … I know it’s the tenth of the month, but consider that these snippets of Aging with ATT-i-tude monthly nuggets are free … hope you enjoy them as much as I did in the writing of them 😊.
Brownielocks, my fave calendar website, has a great note about MAY’s origin: “May is named after the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Also from the Latin word maiores, ‘elders,’ who were celebrated during this month.”
Hold on there, we’re not “elders”—we’re 39 and Holding youngsters! No matter how well we nurture our youthful minds, though, we can’t deny the actualization of time. So we may as well celebrate it in Older Americans Month* (see below).
֎ Celebrating MAY
39ers ~ And More!
Childhood dreams rarely last
to adulthood. We fall in love early and then learn how much more the world has
to offer. Some dreams, however, remain as fond memories … mine was …
So I had to ask my parents. “Sure,” mom and dad said, “as soon as we get a place big enough.” So, you know that didn’t happen. Still, mom and dad did understand my earnest enthusiasm, so they enrolled me in horseback riding lessons. I was in heaven.
My parents didn't promise me the moon (or a horse), but taught me the value of quality compromise. Were you or are you still dreaming of a midnight ride? Here’s where you can “Adopt a Horse.” #AdoptAHorseMonth
As Adults though, when we can’t have what we want, we pout … and eat! Some scarf down chips, others grab the ice cream scoop, but my comfort food is cheese, please. Which brings us to American Cheese Month. Designation originator, American Cheese Education Foundation, says, “Whether you’re a cheese lover, cheesemaker, or anything in between, you can get involved to help us spread the love for American artisan cheese.” From Baby Swiss to Colby Jack, go for it. #AmericanCheeseMonth
*Yep, we can’t avoid it—and why should we? After all, Older Americans Month was created just for US! And a government proclamation proves it. President John F. Kennedy issued the first proclamation recognizing older
If you're on the low end of the 39 and Holding spectrum, don’t worry, you’ll get there. For the rest of us—keep the faith, a good sense of humor, and remember how fortunate you are to have made it to this day. So Happy Birthday MAY 39ers ♪… and many more …♪ Cheers to your future! #OlderAmericansMonth
May
5th: Look out world—there’s a full moon on Cinco de Mayo! Talk
about a day for Full Moon
Magic.
The full “Flower Moon,” an Algonquin term, urges April’s showers to
work do their hocus pocus and push the flowers up through the earth for our
delight!
Not feelin’ the floral love?
Perhaps the “Frog Moon” (Cree) or “Moon of Shedding Ponies” (Oglala) is more
your style. Or, are you looking for your ol’ sombrero …?
May 5th: It’s party time! Grab me a Corona, please, and when is it my turn on the pinata? Americans choose to celebrate Cinco de Mayo though it’s barely mentioned in Mexico … WHY?? Going through our own Civil War, we felt the pain of Mexico as they battled France for their lives at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. That day—May 5, 1862, as History.com tells it, “The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza,” managed a much-needed victory. It didn’t end their war, so May 5th isn’t a Mexican Independence Day, but it was crucial to their ultimate victory. Since 1863, beginning in California, Cinco de Mayo has been celebrating the Battle of Puebla and the Mexican-American culture.
May 6th: It's Kentucky Derby fever! The running of
the roses—well darn, by the time you read this the horses will have run their
day with 15-1 winner, Mage, trotting up to receive the blanket of flowers.
Next, let's race up the coast to Baltimore, Maryland, on May 20th for Preakness, the second
jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown. Talk about Adopt a
Horse Month—more like, bet-on-a-horse-month! But wait—there’s more—next
month, the Belmont
Stakes
finish racing’s Triple Crown events June 10th. Giddyup …
May 14th: M’dear 39ers, as commercial as most major holidays are, including this one, it’s pretty tough to miss Mother's Day, whether you need to buy a gift or not. After my boys and respective spouses call or otherwise give me a rosy glow, as the eldest of the moms in my side of the family, I take the rest of the day to reminisce about our family mothers who went before us. Now poignant memories, my mother was fiercely loving, mostly supportive, and a friend to the end. Great, good or less-than-perfect, mothers are the starting point in our lives … it’s up to you what to do with it.
May 19th: Alright, alright, more 19th fun! Dig out the pizza cutter for National Pizza Party Day! ThereIsADayForThat.com claims that the 3rd Friday in May was officially established by Ross Marzolf and Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza. Ohhhhhkay. Like we need a reason to party with pizza. Whether you need an excuse or not, get creative, like my 39er son, Scott, and create your own yummy pizza style. (I’ve taste-tested his new culinary creation—oh, YUM.) If you need a brain boost for that, here ya go. If you just want to wear creative clothes for a pizza party, here ya go again. Enjoy!
May 26th: Put your dancin’ shoes on … it’s World Lindy [LinDee] Hop Day! Said to be named in honor of Charles Lindbergh, no one seems to want to claim this day. Since my name is a playful variation of the dance, guess I’ll adopt it! My mother told two stories to answer my query as to why my parents chose to give me a name I continuously need to spell out for everyone I meet. “Linda” was their first choice, but mom claimed an abundance of Lindas were born in the hospital that month and nixed it. Second, she was a dance instructor, so naturally, they thought “Lindy” from the dance, was a catchy alternative. But still, they just couldn’t leave it alone—she had to tweak it with an artistic spelling. It’s been an interesting, usually fun aspect of my life, and a darn sight better than other dances of the era I could have been named, like Samba or Balboa! (No offense meant to anyone with those names). So 39ers, let’s have #FunWithNames—tag me on Twitter with your fun first name!
May 27th: While the Peanuts comic strip has initiated many a trend and fad since its inception in 1950, Snoopy, of all its characters, likely has the most endearing and enduring affects on us. Point in fact, it’s Joe Cool Day! Some of you 39ers will fondly recall when we were treated to a new Snoopy identity on this day in 1971. It wasn’t long after that we teased our friends with, “Who do you think you are, ‘Joe Cool’? Grab your sunshades and be cool.
May 29th: Yes, it’s a somber, but poignant celebration for many 39ers on Memorial Day, 2023. Originally begun to commemorate and honor the lives lost in war(s), it’s also a yearly reminder of what we fight for today …
May 31st: Last, but certainly not least for us 39ers, it’s National Senior Health & Fitness Day®. Yeah, I know, exercise and healthy eating doesn’t sound like much fun—but we can make it less onerous with like-minded friends. Click below for ideas on this year's theme, #MoveMoreToDoMore ... always on the last Wednesday of May, Mature Market Resource Center® claims the “largest older adult health and wellness event, now celebrating its 30th anniversary.” Get your community of seniors motivated for #SeniorHealthAndFitnessDay
֎ Monthly Song
of Note
♪
Is
this you? ♪ Oh, give me
the beat boys and free my soul | I wanna get lost in your rock
and roll and drift away …♪ It is me—like
most writers, I easily lapse into a daydream. “Drift Away” (see video
with an intro by Wolfman Jack!) slips into your mind and floats it into the
music and beyond. In May 1973 Dobie Gray’s
tune had steadily drifted up the WCFL/Chicago radio chart to #11. Some songs have great lyrics but maybe they’re about
love won—and you are loveless—or love lost—and you’re happily coupled or
cheerfully single; or the song is devastatingly depressing about our world
around us. They just don’t quite fit your mood. This song, however,
simply lets you ♪ … look for the
light through the pouring rain …♪
and drift away. Click on more tuneful tidbits to manifest your memories of 1973, and/or
just keep the Rock Rockin’ from 50 Years Ago
this Month!
This month, the Taurus Bull (April 20-May 20) breaks free to take big steps, professionally and personally, while the Gemini Twins (May 21-June 20) come together in body, spirit and soul; and you’ll both benefit from May’s New Moon on the 19th.
Ah, Taurus 39ers, you lucky devils ... this month it’s anything goes, and it all goes your way as the month drifts into Gemini territory. Right about now you should be bursting with Spring energy and by the last week of May, no matter which path you choose, you’ll break free and it’s all good. Focus on the positive with a solid, grounded step—you’ll be fine.
In the meantime, Gemini, gather your twin wits about you as you enter a new phase of awareness. Constructive changes refresh and enrich your personal psyche to bring lightness where there was dark and laughter where there was sadness. Leave the drama behind, slide into summer, for a more lighthearted season of your life.
Between Spring flowers and Mother's Day, flowers are indeed, the gift of the month. Fortunately, the lovely Lily-of-the-Valley and the Hawthorn share center stage. Lily-of-the-Valley is the month’s star bloom, its bell-shaped petals graciously enhancing any flower arrangement, or stand alone. Meanwhile, the rose-colored Hawthorn, an ancient symbol of hope, comes with an active cultural history. Fittingly, the May gemstone is the garden-green Emerald.
֎ Aging with ATT-i-tude Platitude
Memories are like rocks. Some are smooth, some are sharp, some are tiny,
colorful pebbles, others are big, beautiful boulders. You choose the size and
shape. ~ L. Rochelle
Happy
UN-Birthday 39ers ~ MAY 2023!
This one’s for you, kids – Susan, Pauline,
Vicki and Judith!
Join the 39
& Holding Club!
Celebrate 39
& Holding Day!
Chat
on Twitter: @39HoldingClub
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And dear readers, I just want you to know that I try my best to create an informative, aesthetically creative article for you each month. However, Blogger is not a professional hosting site—but they’re free through Google. So we’re stuck with their crummy platform that doesn’t work well to manipulate images with writing. Trust me, I’ve tried for years to write articles without gaps between paragraphs and even between sentences. Sigh. Maybe I’ll win the lottery and be able to afford a professional hosting site someday. Cheers!
LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic Seventies!
*Important Message: Any data, links, or opinions in this site are for your information only and does not constitute legal or medical expertise of any kind. My proficiency is writing and sensible reporting. Period. Please use all data, links, or my skewed opinions at your own risk.
Are you a 39er this month? Feel free to share your UN-birthday comments below (click on Comments or if it says No Comments, click that to be the first) and tell us how you really feel about your age and aging. Keep the stories coming!
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