Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20190621035327/@comment-29709319-20190720023254

National Themes For July 20th: National Moon Day, National Lollipop Day, 🇺🇸National Pennsylvania Day, National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day, and Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day.

🌛National Moon Day commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. NASA reported the moon landing as being “…the single greatest technological achievement of all time.” On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon. Six hours after landing, Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. He spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft. He was soon followed by Buzz Aldrin. While Aldrin spent slightly less time on the moon than Armstrong, together they collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material to bring back to Earth. Michael Collins, piloted Apollo 11, remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned. Caught up in the thrill of the adventure, millions watched the mission from Earth. Televisions around the world tuned in to the live broadcasts giving the astronaut a world-wide audience. As a result, all witnessed as Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface and described the event as “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” Unquestionably a tangible achievement in the space race, reaching the moon placed the United States in a role to go forth and explore farther and deeper into the reach of the universe. In the months and decade that followed, NASA and the Soviets stepped up the missions. Fast forward forty years and private expeditions plan to take humankind exploring our solar system. Armstrong’s “one small step for man” inspired imaginations and sparked innovation for generations to come. In 1971, President Richard Nixon proclaimed National Moon Landing Day on July 20 to commemorate the anniversary of man’s first moon landing. With no continuing proclamation to follow, Richard Christmas took up the baton and began a “Chrismas Card” writing campaign. A former gas station attendant, the Michigan native wrote to governors, congressmen, and senators in all 50 states urging them to create National Moon Day. By July of 1975, 12 states had sponsored bills observing Moon Day. James J. Mullaney, former Curator of Exhibits and Astronomy at Pittsburgh’s original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science and Staff Astronomer at the Allegheny Observatory, is a modern day supporter of a National Moon Day. He says, “If there’s a Columbus Day on the calendar, there certainly should be a Moon Day!” Mr. Mullaney has been working toward making National Moon Day an official Federal holiday.

🍭National Lollipop Day! Lollipops have been satisfying the sweet tooth for generations and possibly for centuries. They may have been a way to preserve nuts and berries in honey during prehistoric times. Much later when sugar was plentiful, lollipops appeared in 16th century Europe. In the United States, confectionaries and medicine shops as early as the 1860s sold lollipops in various forms, but it wasn’t until 1908 that George Smith gave lollipops an official 20th-century story. He gets credit for inventing the modern style lollipop and in 1931 trademarked the name which he claims came from his favorite racing horse, Lolly Pops. They range from the small size, which can be purchased by the bag full and are also given away at banks, barber shops, and parades, to the very large ones that are made out of candy canes twisted into circles. ✨1934 – In the movie Bright Eyes, Shirley Temple sang the song “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” ✨1939 – The Wizard of Oz brought us a world of characters, including the Lollipop Guild. Armed with a giant spiral sucker, The Lollipop Guild welcomed Dorothy to the Land of Oz. ✨1969 – How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop. The Tootsie Pop (the trademark name for Tootsie Roll’s lollipop) commercial debuted on U.S. television. The 60-second advertisement included a boy, cow, fox, turtle, owl and the narrator. ✨1973-1978 -The lollipop-loving detective, Kojak, from the TV series of the same name, softened the tough guy while at the same time, toughened up the lollipop.

🍓National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day celebrates the smooth and fruity taste found in a glass full of some chilled, Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. In July of 2010, Maple River Winery in historic downtown Casselton, North Dakota, proudly accepted the Double Gold Award at the Indy International Wine Competition for its Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. Rhubarb, a tart perennial vegetable, but when combined with strawberries has a unique flavor that some consider the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. A New York court decided in 1947 that since rhubarb was used in the United States as a fruit, that for the purposes of regulation and duties, it was to be counted as a fruit.

👐Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day was created by author and motivational speaker Martha J. Ross-Rodgers. This day is intended for all to let go of the past and live for the present. To help with this venture, find a paper and pen, write down your “could haves” and “should haves” and then throw it away. Once you have thrown your “could haves” and “should haves” in the trash, make the following resolution: “From this day forward, I choose not to live in the past. The past is history that I can not change. I can do something about the present; I choose to live in the present.” Now, take care of yourself and your health by living for now. Do your best and make the best of each and every day!

🇺🇸National Pennsylvania Day recognizes the second state to join the Union. Once the home of the temporary capital of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State. While the source of the nickname has been forgotten, the meaning is not lost. Bridge builders know leaving the vital keystone out of their structure would be folly and would lead to collapse. Pennsylvania played many roles that could be considered keystones. Its vote for independence was split between its eight delegates and played a vital role in deciding to move toward independence and cementing the union of the newly formed country. Throughout military operations, Pennsylvania provided forces to support the cause. Valley Forge tells the story of leadership and sacrifice of a young and developing army and country. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed in Philadelphia during its tenure as the temporary capital. It was geographically centered among the 13 original colonies. Known people from Pennsylvania: ✨Daniel Boone - Frontiersman - (November 2, 1734 - September 26, 1820) - The real-life legend that is Daniel Boone began in Pennsylvania on the Boone homestead in what is now Birdsboro. Today, the homestead is host to historical tours, demonstrations and activities providing a look into young Daniel Boone’s life. Born to Squire and Sarah (Morgan) Boone, he was the fourth son of six children in a Quaker family. It wasn’t until he was around 12 years old that his father purchased his first rifle which he soon mastered. The family left Pennsylvania for North Carolina in 1749 where Daniel began his own hunting business. ✨Betsy Griscom Ross - Flag maker - (January 1, 1752 - January 30, 1836) - While many of us learned in school that Betsy Ross designed the first United States flag, there are no records confirming this. She was indeed a flag maker and roamed the same circles as George Washington. A resilient and resourceful woman, she survived three husbands, managed a business and household during an ever-changing time in history. ✨James Buchanan - 15th U.S. President - (April 23, 1791 - March 4, 1861) - The 15th President of United States, James Buchanan is the only president elected from Pennsylvania. He is also the only president to remain unmarried for his entire life. The only president elected from Pennsylvania, James Buchanan’s tenure as president left the nation in turmoil and on the cusp of war. ✨Mariah Bowersock Mendenhall - Midwife - (May 2, 1813 - May 19, 1911) - Born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, Mariah Mendenhall delivered 980 babies in Northern Indiana and never lost a mother in her care. She nursed the people in her communities for more than 40 years. Mendenhall lived a long 98 years and was an asset to those she provided care to. ✨Louisa May Alcott - Author - (November 29, 1832 - March 6, 1888) - Most known for her known for her novels Little Women and Little Men, the prolific author penned over 30 novels. Louisa May Alcott advocated for women’s sufferage and wrote to the very end of her life. ✨Edward Goodrich Acheson - Inventor - (March 9, 1856 - July 6, 1931) - Credited with 69 patents, Edward Acheson developed synthetic abrasives, perfected methods for making graphite and producing artificial diamonds. Many of his companies continue today. ✨Nellie Bly - Journalist - (May 4, 1864 - January 27, 1922) - Born Elizabeth Cochran in Cochran Mills, Bly made a name for herself when she went undercover as a mental patient on Blackwell’s Island as an investigative journalist for the New York World. The exposè led to real change in the New York City mental health system. The World also sent Bly on a Jules Verne style journey around the world, inspired by the author’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days. ✨Maxwell Anderson - Playwright - (December 15, 1888 - February 28, 1959) - Journalist, composer and prolific playwright, Maxwell Anderson was born in Atlantic, Pennsylvania and educated in North Dakota and California. Credited with commercial success both on stage and screen, the playwright earned a Pulitzer Prize for Both Your Houses in 1933. The political drama set in Congress with a plot full of pork and deals finds a stage still today. Anderson’s talents as a composer led him to collaborate with Kurt Weill, resulting in the popular standard “September Song” recorded by Frank Sinatra. ✨Samuel Barber - Composer - (March 9, 1910 - January 23, 1981) - Samuel Barber gained musical recognition for his compositions during the 20th century. His distinctive, modern style earned him two Pulitzer Prizes and an international following. ✨Lee Iacocca - Auto Executive - (October 15, 1924) - The one-time president of Ford Motor Company, Lee Iacocca famously went on to successfully rescue Chrysler Corporation from bankruptcy. ✨Arnold Palmer - Golfer - (September 10, 1929 - September 25, 2016) - A professional golfer, Palmer is widely regarded as one of the game’s great athletes and the man who made golf marketable. Palmer won over 90 tournaments over five decades, including four Masters and two British Cups. ✨John Updike - Author - (March 18, 1932 - January 27, 2009) - One of the 20th century’s most beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author, John Updike wrote about the human condition in a broad range of formats. He published more than 20 novels, including the Rabbit series, Witches of Eastwick, numerous short stories, poems and essays. He was a frequent contributor to the New Yorker, book critic and art critic. ✨Reginald Reggie Jackson - Baseball Player - (May 18, 1946) - Also known as Mr. October for his postseason clutch hitting, Reggie Jackson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. He spent the bulk of his career with the Oakland Athletics with three World Series wins and taking home MVP honors in 1973. Then in 1977, after Jackson had signed with the Yankees, he added another series win and MVP honor to his name. Jackson and the Yankees earned another World Series Championship a year later. During his career, he hit 563 home runs and 2584 hits with a batting average of .262.

I can't think of walking on the moon without picturing Buzz Lightyear, with Tim Allen's voice from Toy Story jumping out of Apollo 11 saying "To Infinity...and Beyond!" Buzz Aldrin actually said, "Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation." It was cherry lollipops when I was a kid. No thank you on anything rhubarb and strawberry wine is a required taste that I don't have. Sometimes it's hard to toss away those, “Could Haves” and “Should Haves”.

We hit 94° with a heat index of 109° today (Friday) and more tomorrow (Saturday). That waterfall should would feel good.

Warm hugs!💕🐶🐶🌞