SUNDAY FUNDAY - JUNE 27, 2021

 SUNDAY FUNDAY - JUNE 27, 2021

And, it really is SUMMER!!  Hot days, warm nights.  Your air conditioning runs almost non-stop!!

WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVENTS, LET’S LOOK AT THE NATIONAL CALENDAR.

June 27 - National Bingo Day

My mother lived to age 98, but had macular degeneration - so her vision was greatly decreased.  She was in an assisted living facility that played bingo regularly.  She memorized two bingo cards at age 95.  So when they played bingo in the facility she had her regular cards and she knew where everything was.  I was impressed that she would memorize two bingo cards (I’m not sure I could do that today)  But, once when I visited, they had been playing for their standard time and she hadn’t won.  So, after the first winner was declared, she slipped a marker onto her card and declared a win!!!  They got the miniature candy bars so she wanted some candy!!!

Also, June 27 - National Ice Cream Cake Day

How to make two fantastic things better - combine them.  Cake - good; Ice Cream - good; cake and Ice Cream together - wunderbar!!!  (Okay, a commercial - I LOVE Dairy Queen’s Ice Cream cakes - a million calories per bite - and totally delicious!!) 

June 28 - National Tapioca Day

I liked things with lumps - like tapioca and oatmeal - my sister didn’t - I knew she was missing out!!!

June 29 - National HUG Day

I mentioned hugs before.  The link says “hugging releases oxytocin into our bodies, which help to strengthen social bonds. It also brings that warm fuzzy feeling that comes after a hug —” and “that lots of hugging leads to "less severe illness symptoms." In everyday terms, that means that folks with plenty of hugs in their lives get sick, they get less sick than people without hugs.  So - handshakes and hugs today!!  WOOOO!!!

WORD PUZZLES - ANSWERS AT BOTTOM

1. 

Issue issue

Issue issue

Issue issue

Issue issue

Issue issue

Answer:  TEN_ _ _     _ _ _ _ _

2. 

[TAX]

_ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

3. JAW JAW

_ _ _ _ 

4. 

NSHELLUT

_ _    _    _ _ _ _ _ 

TODAY IN HISTORY - SOME HIGHLIGHTS

June 26, 1945 - United Nations Charter Signed.

In the Herbst Theater auditorium in San Francisco, delegates from 50 nations signed the United Nations Charter, establishing the world body as a means of saving “succeeding generations'' from the scourge of war.

June 27, 1950 - President Truman orders US troops to Korea!!!  (And, no, contrary to popular opinion, Alda Alda, Loretta Swit and Harry Morgen were not assigned to the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital at that time)

******

Short Story:

Carla lived alone.  Fortunately, she had two pets - Ariel , her beloved Chiweenie (a dog mix between a Dachshund and a Chihuahua), and Felix  (a long hair Siberian cat).  Her life had been tough - an abusive father, and then an abusive marriage. But, those were all years ago, and she had forgiven them.  

Her pets kept her happy as she aged into her 80s.  She sometimes wondered which of the three would go first.  

Felix  was the first to die.  His eyesight failed, and his kidneys failed.  Soon, he started dragging his left back leg.  Paralysis maybe?  Then came the day when she petted him, and he just died in her arms.  

Ariel  was old for a dog, 21 years.  Carla had looked that up, and said that Chihuahua mixes generally lived for 15 to 20 years.  Carla tried to walk Ariel  twice a day, but the walks were getting shorter as Ariel  did her ‘duty’ and preferred the indoor life.  

And, Carla was also getting older.  She would be 83 on her next birthday, but with failing eyesight, diabetes, and a knee that acted up and should have been replaced years before she hobbled around her small apartment.  

Her friend, Rachel, would stop by weekly and take Carla places.  There was the grocery store, the pharmacy, the beauty shop, and Walmart (for litter and pet food).  But, even those trips were becoming fewer as the grocery store, pharmacy and Walmart all had delivery options.  

Carla’s church had live streamed their services during the COVID pandemic, and had opted to continue the video services.  Carla watched them on her Android phone, but about half the time, she would fall asleep during the sermon.  

Rachel was aware of the aging process.  She had a key to Carla’s apartment - ‘just in case’.  Rachel would text Carla before coming over to visit.  This particularly Sunday afternoon, Carla didn’t answer Rachel’s texts.  Rachel called her friend, but there wasn’t an answer.  And finally Rachel went to see what was going on - and took the key - ‘just in case’.  When Rachel knocked on the door, she could hear a faint arf-art from Ariel , but nothing else.

Letting herself in, Ariel greeted Rachel with happy tail-wagging.  

Going into the bedroom, Rachel saw Carla in the bed.  Rachel spoke to her, but didn’t get a response.  Rachel had not been around dying and dead people.  Rachel shook Carla, but there was no response.  She tried to get a pulse but didn’t find one.  She didn’t know if this qualified as an emergency, but called 911 anyway to report a possible death.

EMTs arrived in seven minutes and didn’t run their siren.  The head EMT checked her vitals and pronounced Carla dead.  

Rachel excused herself and went outside and cried.  She knew that day was coming - but it had arrived that day.  She then went into celebration mode.  Carla had been a good friend and had a strong faith.  Carla kept various documents in a large white envelope on her refrigerator with phone numbers and relevant information.  Rachel found the number she wanted, Cassy Weinmueller, Carla’s daughter who lived about an hour away.  Rachel called Cassy.  

The EMTs had taken Carla’s body for a standard autopsy.  Rachel called Crestview Baptist Church, where Carla had attended for years and left a note for the pastor.  Cassy arrived about two hours after she was called.  The two women hugged and cried.  

Cassy thanked Rachel for her love and friendship with her mother (and they hugged and cried again).  Rachel called 911 again, not for an emergency again, but to see where they had taken Carla’s body so Cassy could see her again.

A week later, a small memorial service was held at Fish, Corey, and Weed funeral parlor.  There were about twenty people - Carla’s daughter, son-in-law, their two children and their spouses, and some friends from her neighborhood and church.  

Leaving the service with a heavy heart, Rachel thought she heard something in a tree outside the funeral parlor.  She saw an image of Carla, her every present smile, and with a brief wave, she disappeared.  Rachel was relieved.

*****

There are single people around us - do they have friends like Rachel in this story?  Who checks up on the shut-ins?  Love still does win - even in death!!!

**************************

You can find what song was #1 on your birthday with this link:

https://playback.fm/birthday-song

(The number 1 song on the day I was born was “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette” by Tex Williams!!!)

Today in Music

1955 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado

1960 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool sung by Connie Francis

1965 Mr. Tambourine Man - the Byrd

1970 The Love you Save - Jackson Five

1975 Love will keep us together - The Captain and Tennille

Today in Country Music

1955 Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young - Faron Young 

1960 Please Help me, I’m Falling - Hank Lockin

1965 Before you Go - Buck Owens

1970 Hello Darlin’ - Conway Twitty

1975 Trying to Beat the Morning Home - T.G. Sheppard

American League Baseball Champion

1955  New York Yankees - MVP Yogi Berra

1960  New York Yankees - Roger Maris

1965  Minnesota Twins - Zoilo Versalles

1970  **Baltimore Orioles -Boog Powell

1975  Boston Red Sox - Fred Lynn

National League Baseball Champion

1955  **Brooklyn Dodgers - MVP Roy Campanella

1960  **Pittsburgh Pirates - MVP Dick Groat

1965  **Los Angeles Dodgers - Willie Mays (Giants)

1970  Cincinnati Reds - Johnny Bench

1975  **Cincinnati Reds - Joe Morgan

** won World Series

WORD PUZZLES ANSWERS

Tennis shoes  (ten issues)

Tax Bracket

Jaws

In a nutshell

*****

Wrap-up!!

Another warm week.  (How could you live in Texas before air conditioning?)

Halfway through 2021.  Just think back to last year.  At this point in time the number of COVID cases were growing, hospitals were running out of beds, it was a worldwide disaster. In the National Day section today, we have national handshake day and national hug day - both of which we couldn’t do last year.  There are still issues and outbreaks around the world, but we seem to be okay.

Remember that we will celebrate Independence Day (aka “The Fourth of July” next week) - wear your Red, White, and Blue!!

Love Wins!!!

Have an awesome week!!!

Karen