July is a Playground in My Mind
Good
Morning 39ers! I know, it may not be morning when you read this, but I’d
like to share with you a recent early a.m. journal entry … a peek into an elder
who is 39 and Holding many times over … ever wondered what old, retired
people think? Heehee …I have lots in store for you this summer month. But if
you’re a 39er, you know by now, “stuff happens.” So, other than the
short note on life below, the rest has taken a while, but finally ready for
your summer reading pleasure.
I start every morning with: So I woke up this morning … musing on the day, I thought about my recent visit to the San Diego
County Fair media event. While wandering around on the warm afternoon, I stopped
at a pop-up theme bar and picked up a promotional button that in my little
pea-brain speaks to life in today’s society.
A
monkey in sunglasses stared at me from center-front, holding a coconut
container of a presumably alcoholic crème drink. The button rimmed in leopard
spots, framed the smirking chimp surrounded by jungle foliage and flowers. Under
the large title “Destination Unknown” splashed across the button, he suggests,
“Find us and get lost.”
I
instantly connected with that button’s message … but likely not how it was
intended. My whole life has felt like a destination unknown experience—I’ve
never had “a plan,” like the business and life coaches hawk, except to write—mid-life,
I finally figured out that was my “superpower,” so to speak. Though, to make a
living with it … still no plan.
Oh,
I tried a few times to map out a five-year course of action, but “life” took
turns that irrevocably altered the most determined of paths, to the point, I
finally just went where the wind took me. Unfortunately, the wind lost its
strength somewhere along the way and here I am, writing mostly for myself. And
you, if you’re still reading!
However,
I’ve had some interesting experiences, following a destination unknown … and seriously
… none of us know our final destination after our time in the concrete jungle
of life, now, do we? So, like a monkey hanging from a tree, bouncing
up-and-down with drink in hand, we may as well have fun and laugh all the way
through! Happy UN-Birthday JULY 39ers!
֎ Celebrating JULY
39ers ~ And More!
Working
off the musing and title above, I may not be as physically or financially
viable for fun adventures of yore, but I have incredible memories and lots of
joy sharing July’s journeys of the mind—and body—for younger 39ers.
Venture forth!
Let
your imagination run wild for
World
Watercolor Month! Plus words of wisdom for JULY UN-birthday 39ers and
a whole lot more! Happy 4th of July … hope it was full of patriotic pride,
good food, and peaceful celebration --and all
with a Forever Young ATT-i-tude! LR
A
recent PBS documentary included a quote that I haven’t decided is inspirational
or depressing. See if you agree with the enigmatic Benjamin Franklin, If you would not be
forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things
worth reading or do things worth the writing …
However,
ol’ Ben’s words that I truly connect with, speak to today’s troubled world as
well as his own, If all printers were determined not to print anything ‘til
they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed …
Seems as though nothing much has changed in a couple hundred years …
Enough
philosophy, 39ers, let’s get on with the lazy, hazy days summer!
July 3rd: Just in time to usher in the first
fireworks of Independence Day, Full Moon
Magic
started the night before with sparklers of its own. Before a holiday of
fireworks, the July Full Buck Moon was known to the Cree as Feather
Moulting Moon, and the Halfway Summer Moon by Anishinaabe. One of
2023’s supermoons, it’s called Buck Moon to acknowledge the fully developed
antlers of the magnificent buck (male deer). Yep, that got your attention, 39er
deer-hunters!
July 10th: Although cold beer is often
thought to be the quintessential hot summer drink, today is your day to party
island-style on Piña Colada Day! No
“official” link is provided to support it, well, because, no one knows its “official” origin. Several
stories have linked the frosty Piña Colada all the way back to 1825
in Puerto Rico, which in 1978, proclaimed it as their official drink. And
there ya go … ahhhhhh, yummy! 39ers will remember, ♪ … If you like Pina Coladas | Getting caught in the
rain … ♪
(Rupert Holmes, 1979)
July 15th: July isn’t complete without a 39er concert! If you’re in or near San Diego, you’re in
luck! Tonight the inimitable Psychedelic Rock band, Blue Oyster Cult, hits the Del Mar
Fairgrounds SOUND Stage. A little earlier in 1973 they were climbing the charts
with their tunes from the Tyranny and Mutation album. Enjoy!
July
17th: Moving forward with the New Moon! As always, 39ers,
take what you learned in the couple of weeks after completing your Full Moon
projects, and celebrate July’s new beginnings with your New Moon
Musings.
The New Moon boosts your
ideas and plans into action goals. Go … activate your summer!
July 18th-22nd: This
is Family Golf
Week!
I am the first to admit I know next to nothing about “real” golf. I even suck
at miniature
golf. And taking a semester of golf oh-so-many-years ago in college, you’d
think I’d remember something … nope! Based in North Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina, the greens game tournament began in the late 1990s as The Father
& Son Team Classic. It eventually expanded with their Parent Child Team
Classic, for an all-inclusive week of fun and bonding. Considering the number
of vehicles that roll in and out daily (rain or shine, year-round), of a San
Diego golf course parking lot next to my residence, I’d say there are a good many
of you 39ers out there who play golf. Forrrrrrre!
July 20th: What and why for 39ers on
the 20th of July … it’s Fortune Cookie Day! Now this
is a day I can identify with … it involves food! But we could also call it “Wonton noodles,
wrappers and egg roll filling day” as they’re all made by Wonton Food Inc., which is
celebrating their 50th year! Although Wonton Food is credited as the
largest fortune-cookie producer, the History
channel
provides a varied background of the ubiquitous cookie delight, attributing it
to similar creations as far back as 19th-century Japan—yes, not China.
Whatever its origins, did you know that besides the standard vanilla, Wonton
Food offers fortune cookies in chocolate and citrus flavors?! And yes, they will
customize
your message … like, Aging is a state of mind … Heehee …
July
21st: While golf and other “ball” games are great bonding
options for families, living near a horse racing track offers a whole different
set of bonding opportunities. Today is Opening Day at the Del Mar Fairgrounds (San Diego/Del Mar, California). We
39ers don’t always have a lot of things in common with our kids and
grandchildren these days—horse racing done right, is an interest that can be
shared well beyond the betting turnstiles.
Teach
them about the blood, sweat and tears that bring the horses and their riders to
the starting gate. Take them to the paddock and show them how the
magnificent beasts are groomed, talk about what they eat and how the trainers
and riders bond with them. Then, teach them how horse racing (or any
sport) should be viewed as “entertainment,” with betting budget restrictions,
to promote responsible
gambling.
It’s a personal favorite sport of mine … I love watching the horses fly around
the track … and away they go!
July 22nd: San Diego 39ers can enjoy the
great outdoors with a fun
and adventurous mountain bike ride! Not in San Diego? I’ll bet your
Parks & Recreation department has pleasurable summer excursions near you too! Locally,
SD County Park Rangers, in tandem with SD Mountain Biking Association and REI
Sporting Goods store, are ready to show beginners and intermediate riders the
mountain biking ropes!
July 24th: Sadly, there is no official link
for this auspicious day. Obviously, someone wanted to show their fondness for
family—it’s Cousins Day!—but perhaps the day’s creator lost touch
somewhere along the line. Cousins can deserve to be recognized, so if you have
a special cousin that’s more like a sister or brother, tell them thanks for
being there. We may not know why this day was inspired to list on a calendar,
but we appreciate the thought … I know I couldn’t have survived these past 39+
years without my Cousin! In fact, if we were close enough to get
together, I’d invite him to join me for …
July24th: National Frozen Margarita Day!
Of course, he’s buying … LOL
July 30th: Again, a fun day without a
sponsored link. Welcome to Paperback Book Day! In recent decades the
ubiquitous eBook has dominated the book scene. However, dedicated readers and
writers will always favor the look, feel, and yes … smell … of a print
book. The paperback book is a bridge between ethereal eBooks (which you
know, you never truly own) and the high-priced (but sometimes worth it) hardbound book.
Are you an avid reader? Many 39ers love the history behind Oldies Rock & Roll Radio. Our Big Bro
books—Blast from Your Past paperback edition
of The
Swinging Sixties, takes you behind the mic for real stories of pioneering
Rock & Roll disk jockeys.
In honor of the day, my Rock & Roll Radio
friends, if you’d rather add an eBook to your device for summer
reading, and since I haven’t yet republished BFYP Book 1 in print
(Rock
& Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years
1954-1959), click on the title for a two-day eBook giveaway just for you over
the weekend—July 29th & 30th! Enjoy, and Rock
On …
֎ Monthly Song
of Note ♪
Regardless of age, summer leads our minds (if not our bodies) to summer
recreation of all sorts. No better song is more inspirational for July fun than 1973’s “Playground in my Mind”; a one-hit-wonder for talented Clint Holmes.
We obviously thought so then, and if you listen to it now, you’ll likely bounce
and wistfully sing with it, like I did while writing this.
Although
sliding down the charts in July, it enjoyed Top Ten status at many
stations, including KUDE/Oceanside, California, where it rests at #20
before slipping off ... more tuneful
tidbits to manifest your memories of 1973, and keep the Rock Rockin’
from 50 Years Ago
this Month! ♪ … Living in a world that I left behind | Happy little
children | In the playground in my mind … ♪
֎ For 39ers
who Follow the Stars …
Hello
my dear
Cancer (June 21-July 22) and
Leo (July 23-August 22)
39ers.
Are you ready to PAR-
TAY? You’re both in for a stellar summer. Make the most
of it!
Beginning
with our usually quiet Cancer
friends, do ya feel the love? You should—it’ll be with you nearly all month. You’ll
even think about venturing out of your comfy shell to enclose the object of
your affections in a big ol’ hug. The 17th’s New Moon could bring a
new love or renewed love … your choice. As usual, it also brings new beginnings
and since you’ve stepped out of your shell, even your finances will benefit.
Rock on!
Roar! That’s the
sound of a wounded lion … but take heart, Leo, it won’t last long.
You start July with a few bumps in the road, but your life roars back to
life mid-month, when you realize your intuition is spot-on. Your financial
picture needs altering, and you have the skills to do it properly. However, this
is still a time of transition and self-reflection. Use your inner strength to
recognize your new path forward.
July 39er gift idea: While many of us consider
birthstones by month, some gemstone experts prefer their jewels by Zodiac sign.
The deep-red ruby is perfect
for your Cancer 39ers’ UN-birthday gift of passion, and the lucky
Leo who receives a spiritual black onyx, will
delight in its mystery.
֎ Aging with ATT-i-tude Platitude
Everybody’s “Playground in My Mind” is different. Take time each day
to spend a few minutes in yours. ~ L. Rochelle
Happy
UN-Birthday 39ers ~ JULY 2023!
This one’s for you, kids – Gary (IM),
John (IM), Yvonne, Ed, Nancy Louise (IM), Marilyn,
Pat, Joyce, and Susan!
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, if you aren’t a techie who knows HTML.
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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RULE<><><><>
