Absurdity is a
Great Bad-Mood-Buster
As a
39er (you’ve turned 39 at least once), you may periodically feel the stagnation
of mid-life. It’s that time between your carefree twenties and thirties, and …
well … every year after.
The doldrums as they were once called, can strike at any
time; hopefully, not for long. Often it takes only a hug from a loved one, an
unexpected fortuitous event, or even a moment of laughter to draw you back into
the sunshine.
I
had one of those moments of the latter, today. By sharing it with you, perhaps
you too, will see the utter necessity for absurdity and a hearty belly laugh.
Nearly
to the end of perusing Brownielocks’ May Calendar of odd and average, official
and unofficial holidays, I spotted this one: “Mike, The Headless Chicken Day:
31-6/1 Link.” With a smirk, I almost
brushed by it to return to work, but my curious muse wouldn’t let me off that
easy.
 |
| Time/Life image archives |
I
clicked the link and found that not only is it a real festival weekend in Fruita, Colorado,
it’s in its 21st year! I had
to click on the History button and learn about Mike.
Once I read, “This festival is dedicated to the amazing story of one chicken’s
will to live,” I was hooked.
Yes,
it’s a true story of a chicken destined to grace the dinner table. When the axe
swung, he indeed, ran around like the proverbial “chicken with its head cut off”—but
by the miracle of creation, he lived!
I
kid you not. It was 1945 and Mike’s determination to live was even documented
by the University of Utah, and he toured key U.S. cities before succumbing to
his ultimate fate, eighteen months later.
This
story reminds us that 39 and Holding
… for decades … is a gift. But you must be determined to claim it, no matter
what your circumstances. And absurdity is a great bad-mood-buster. As one of my
39AHC designs says, “That’s my story, an’ I’m stickin’ to it!”
39er Fitness
and Fun
This
oddball 39 and Holding Club article is a message to stop and smell the May flowers
and remember how precious life is at any age. Especially when you can still
laugh. So with that in mind, what else did I find at Brownielocks? Some great
days in May to take your mind off the beaten path of life:
May 5th: Lemonade Day; spend a day with your inner child and make lemonade!
May 5th: Lemonade Day; spend a day with your inner child and make lemonade!
May 11th: Mother Ocean Day; help bring
awareness to the Earth’s life-blood and the damage we are doing to it. Mother
Ocean needs our help. Give your time or donation.
May 5-11th: National Wildflower Week;
smell the flowers!
39 Years Ago this Month ~ MAY 1980
May 1st: “About that Urban Renaissance...” Wiki says
there is dispute, but the first published print offering of the word "yuppie" was made by journalist
Dan Rottenberg in Chicago magazine. Were you or your
parents a “Young Urban Professional”? Nearly eleven years later, “Time magazine
proclaimed the death of the "yuppie" in a mock obituary.” Um, not so
fast … they came baaaack!
May 21st: My how time flies when you’re
counting the number of Star Wars franchises! The Empire Strikes Back
released on this date in the United States; the second of eleven feature films.
Wiki: highest-grossing film of
the year (just as its predecessor, Star Wars,
was three years prior—also in May).
For 39ers who
Follow the Stars
…
May flowers for Moms! Since MAY 39er moms—and the rest of you
deliberate and steadfast Taurus
guys and gals (April 20-May 20)—are based in earthy complexity. Isn’t that a
mom attitude?
Taurus
39ers are also multi-faceted like the charming cuts of this month’s fine emerald birthstone.
Their depth goes beyond the surface and roots calmly its many mindful crevices.
But
the emerald’s twinkle shimmers brightly over quick-witted and chatty Geminis too (May
21-June 20). Just try to leave them
out of the party! And you’ll struggle to keep up with the energetic twin-sign
as they rush through the month, adding their seemingly magic touch to every
moment.
Aging with ATT-i-tude Platitude
Is your life distracted and
chaotic like a chicken running around without its head? Sit still. Take a deep
breath (or 3 or 4) and move forward one slow step at a time. You’ll stay younger,
longer. ~ L.
Rochelle
Don’t
wait, start now! Happy UN-Birthday MAY 39ers: This one’s for you,
kids – Susan, Pauline, Vicki, Judith!
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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 an 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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