Happy UN-Birthday 39ers FEBRUARY 2022

February 39ers ~ Hearts ‘n’ Flowers ‘n’ Stuff! 

Yep, it’s actually posted on the 1st, not the middle of the month. It’s been spruced up a tad, but I’m hoping my on-time trend continues ... enjoy!

Don’t look now, but your heart’s showing. Are you a closet Hallmark channel watcher? Romcoms are a staple this month and though we may not be nurturing a romantic dalliance, it’s tough to ignore this month’s cuteness. No matter how much you try. It’s everywhere. So’s the chocolate and flowers. Go ahead. It’s okay—get some for yourself. You deserve it! Love starts with yourself ...

We have a full month of fun and frolic for you, beginning with a reminder for 39ers that we owe our existence to funny guy, Jack Benny, who first uttered, “There’s nothing funny about 40. I’m 39 and holding!” We honor his birthday every Valentine’s day—yep, he was born on this day in 1894—towards the end of the romantic Victorian Era.

Hope you find something interesting in our hearts ‘n’ flowers ‘n’ stuff to help celebrate your 39 and Holding month ... 

֎ Celebrating FEBRUARY 39ers ~ And More!
Speaking of lovers and stuff, word has it, it’s also Library Lovers Month! It doesn’t come with an official link, but of course, writing, words, and books are in my blood. I have spent many hours in a library over the course of my life, so couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sing their praises! In-person or virtually, there is no better place to immerse yourself in the words of your passion. Enjoy! Maybe grab a history of ...

February 9^th [Wednesday]: PIZZA! I can’t believe no one claims the fame for National Pizza Day! In celebration, says WFMZ-TV in Pennsylvania, “... over 200 pizzerias across the country will come together on Wednesday, February 9th to feed the hungry through the Pizza Across America campaign from Slice Out Hunger and the World Pizza Champions.”  

February 14^th [Monday]: Besides pizza, what else is a food staple? Chocolate! Oh ... it isn’t National Chocolate Day?! Obviously, it should be. The traditional St. Valentine’s Day with flowers and cards has somehow morphed into the next big chocolate-consuming day, after Halloween (and preceding Easter). Like we need a reason to love it. Although Hallmark found their card-giving Valentine niche as early as 1913, the Cadbury British confectionary family first perfected and sold their decorated boxes of chocolate on this day in 1868.
      And no, you can’t give your sweetie a chocolate pumpkin. It’s a dead giveaway that you really don’t care. So dump the eats and go back to a sweet sentiment in a card with a handful of beautiful roses.

February 22^nd [Tuesday]: Oh, yum, I’ll take a Margarita any day, but today is National Margarita Day! The Margarita is one of the most versatile libations for creating your own recipe. The associated link is nice, but its articles are seven years old, without a viable update. With a little research, my advice is start with the basics, then go a little wild-‘n’-crazy!

February 22^nd [Tuesday]: And if you’re into things a little on the New Age side ... this month’s 02/22/2022 is even more numerologically unique in the ‘70s style of New Age than the multiple ones (11) karmic experience of 2011’s 01/11/2011 and 11/11/2011. Back in the day we learned about numerology and the three master numbers ... 11 / 22 / 33 ... in some circles, 02/20/2022 is special for the U.S., because it heralds the return of the Pluto cycle to the U.S. (its cycle takes approx. 247 years); while 02/22/2022 will be considered a triple-whammy portent of great changes and good things to happen. It is the third and last multiple twos for another couple hundred years. There obviously can’t be a “33” calendar date, so this is it for a while!

February 27^th [Sunday]: The creative folks at National Day Calendar go a step further than simply

listing special days. They try to make them fun and give a little history or their take on the day. Such is the case for National Retro Day! It’s a day for everyone to climb in a time machine and head back ... “Every generation looks back and asks, ‘Remember when?’ This celebration indulges our love for the good ol’ days while remaining in the present.” What are your “good ol’ days”? 1960s’ hippie rebellion? 1970s’ wild psychedelia? Howz-about the ‘80s’ hip and cool looks? Leave the cellphone at home and go Retro!

February 28^th [Monday]: Although this day comes a little late to help with Valentine’s Day, it still has merit for the rest of the year’s flower-giving and home decorating moments. It’s Floral Design Day! Of course, the official link is for a floral school, but hey, that simply makes them enterprising. And obviously the perfect folks from which to learn some design tricks.

♪ Monthly Song of Note: Is there anything sweeter in February than teen love? Donny Osmond sung his heart out in the hearts and flowers month of 1972. He tried desperately to tell the world ... ♪ How can I, oh how can I tell them | This is not a puppy love ♪ ... Wonder how he feels about that now? 😊 Bringing back tuneful memories that climbed to #5 on the WAPE/Jacksonville, Florida, “Hit List” of 50 Years Ago this Month! 

֎ For 39ers who Follow the Stars …
If 2022 and February in particular, are times of change and new beginnings, we want Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) and Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) 39ers in our corner. Starting with the community-oriented water tenders, not only have they lived enough life to see the good and bad without rose-colored glasses, but Aquarians feel the world’s needs, as well as see them. With an instinct to help, their practical ideas and sparkling wit will follow through to  dynamic change.

      Coming into their own on February 19^th, Pisces are no slouches in the caring department. Although, their empathy can at times, be overwhelming. With a strong spiritual world behind them (whether they know it or not), they too, are a great balance for making change happen for the good of all.
      The royal purple amethyst gemstone reigns this month for Aquarius and Pisces, enhancing their efforts with strength and clarity, while protecting them from harm. And it’s full of love! According to our gemstone source, “St. Valentine, the patron of love, is said to have worn an amethyst ring carved with the image of cupid.”

֎ Aging with ATT-i-tude Platitude 
Love is a gift from your heart. Give it often and you will find it helps keep you young. ~ L. Rochelle

Cheers to your Happy UN-Birthday 39ers ~ FEBRUARY 2022! 
      This one’s for you, kids – Sharon, Ms. Rochelle, and David!

Join the 39 & Holding Club! 
Chat on Twitter: @39HoldingClub
Club 39 Nifty Gifts 

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*Important Legal 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 expertise 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!

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!

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A Single 39er’s Funny Little Valentine

As a single 39er, I am often alone on Holidays (especially the past year) and today—Valentine’s Day 💖—is no exception. When this happens, I tap into my inner child for joy and happiness, which helps keep me young in body, mind, spirit, and soul.

Many incurable romantics never lose their delight over the simple things on Valentine’s Day … flowers, chocolates, a sweet note, and an adorable plush animal … meet Cocoa …

Bought myself a Valentine’s Day gift yesterday. I licked my lips thinking of a small chocolate box to buy—I believe in treating myself on holidays when I’m alone—or maybe, especially because I’m alone.

 So I trolled the “seasonal” aisle at the grocery store (obviously not looking for gourmet chocolates), and there were a couple of shelves with Russell Stover^® plush pups holding a box of chocolates with a rose in the mouth. I doubt they were selling well. Unfortunately, the stem of the rose looked more like fangs on either side of the pups’ mouths. Ah well. Cute try!

Taking a step down the aisle, sentimentality took hold. I don’t know about guys, but many women will always have a soft heart for stuffed animals and all things childlike.

I weighed the price of $8 for a small box of cheap chocolates against the $8 sale price on the pups holding a little smaller size box of RS tasty sweets. Goodness knows, I don’t need the extra chocolates (which of course, never stops me), so my inner child took a closer look at the better value array of, soft, furry “Cocoa the Love Pup.”

While one might think they all look the same, I found early in my stuffed toy buying and gift-receiving life that not all adorable stuffed animals are created equal. There are always slight-to-significant manufacturing anomalies that can make or break the “cute” of a plush.

I rummaged through the shelf of tawny little guys in front of me and my attention was drawn to a shy one in front that seemed a tad “off.” Hmmm.

Pushing past him I pulled out a couple from the side and back, looking for one that better suited me. They all looked pretty much the same, with shiny red heart box, rose-fangs, and “Russel Stover” stitched on the bottom of the left paw.

Going back to the pup in front, I noticed his nose is crooked and his rose stem looked more like fangs than all the others in his “litter.” And then I saw that “Russell Stover” was sewn upside down on his paw. Out of curiosity (a writer’s bane) I pawed through two more bins of plush pups, but only the “runt’s” paw exposed an upturned brand name.

Poor baby. Definitely the less desirable of all his siblings. That was the final test … my heartstrings tugged and his destiny became my “rescue pup” for Valentine’s Day!

Finished with my shopping and returned home with “rescue” Cocoa in my care (Cocoa is the company name for him—I would have named him Buster), he sat contentedly watching me from the sofa as I settled back at my desk. Perusing the store receipt, as usual, to check my expenditures, my eyes spotted Cocoa’s line item.

That’s when I realized that the $8 I thought I’d spent on Cocoa had discounted to $4! Since their original selling price was $12, it confirmed my suspicion that these poor little plush pups were a good idea at the drawing board, yet somehow lost their tail-wagging factor in manufacturing. But still …

Happy Valentine’s Day to me for a great buy and a satisfied feeling that my rescued Cocoa would have languished with his siblings until a donation cycle (or, gasp! recycling). The point is, you might be alone, but if you treat yourself, your reward could be a fun surprise. 

At every age, Love comes in many forms … pick one and enjoy your Valentine's Day! 

 

Club 39 Nifty Gifts
Join the 39 & Holding Club!
Chat on Twitter: @39HoldingClub

 Please read on for your "regularly scheduled" 39AHC February post below ... 👇😍

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