Music is March Magic—Just Sing!
My,
it’s been a long dry spell for my 39 and Holding Club
redheaded stepchild. That’s what I call this blog (actually, the whole site
needs an overhaul), as it always seems to be last on my list of tasks. It’s shunned
and alone, until I can find the time for eloquent words to share about the fun
of aging. That’s forgetting of course, that you don’t “find” time—you make
time. Got it.
For
anyone offended by the “redheaded stepchild” reference—seriously? Though not a
stepchild, I am a redhead and if I was being mean-spirited in context … but
I’m not … that would be different. As far as the redhead-now-going-gray, I know
how to laugh at myself. Many seem to have forgotten how to do that.
All
that said, let’s get on with having fun, at any age, shall we? Are you facing “39
and Holding” for the first time or the twentieth? No matter … we remind
you, you’re only as old as you feel* (at any given moment). At
the New Year I generally welcome a new generation of 39ers, and sorry to
have missed that this year—even December 2022 was kinda sketchy.
So, WELCOME everyone born in 1984—this
is YOUR year to realize (if you haven’t already)—age is truly subjective. It is
just a number, not who you are. With that in mind …
֎ Celebrating MARCH 39ers ~ And More!
Ideally,
you’d be reading this on March 1st or shortly after … but we don’t
live in a perfect world … so here we are even past the middle of the month. I’m
still including earlier special days of the month just for reference, but still
to come are this month’s New Moon (March 21st) and American
Crossword Puzzle Days (March 31st-April 2nd).
However,
what I am most frustrated about is not being able to give March 22nd
its proper due. Why? Read on …
It’s
Music in Our Schools Month and I can’t stress enough how music relieves
stress whether you ever make a living from it or not. Goodness knows, our kids
need stress-relievers right about now. The National
Association for Music Education will steer you in the right direction;
contact them to learn how to help your local schools establish or re-establish
a music program. Get your children interested in music—it truly does soothe the
savage beast …
March 7th: was full of Full Moon Magic. Yes, at
this writing, it’s well past March’s Full Moon, but you can’t worm your way out
of its month-long effects … The Full Worm Moon is alive and well! It’s
true, the little squirmy things emerge from tree bark about this time to
welcome Spring. A couple less slimy names for our March Moon in Native form are,
the Eagle Moon (Cree) and Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo) which
certainly captures March’s blustery attitude.
March 15th: As a 39er, you may have
been called an “old buzzard”—sorry we missed this one: Buzzards Day. Go ahead,
add it to your calendar for 2024! Are you an “old buzzard”? Well, you can
celebrate yourself on this day (next year)—AND—yep, real turkey buzzards come
home to roost on this day in Hinkley, Ohio! My go-to calendar site, Brownielocks loves this
day and offers a brief history of how it came to be. Do you know buzzards live
up to twenty years? Just too fun.
March
17th: Faith
and begorrah, of course it was St.
Patrick’s Day! As you’ve often known me to say—there are a few events
in the year that may be celebrated on “the day,” but I generally extend them through
the whole month—St. Patrick’s Day is one of them—so let’s just keep the
party going! And it helps that March is the month of Spring, which begs more
green. And that leads me into …
March 20th: Spring “began”! Even if it’s
gloomy and cold in your neck of the woods, the equinox gives us an inner warmth
knowing Spring is just around the corner …
March 21st: Use New Moon Musings to
soften March’s New Beginnings with wit and creativity, which if they haven’t appeared
already, will be many. Take heart, as you take each new step with dignity and
confidence.
So,
speaking of new beginnings, if you’re just beginning your 39er
adventures or celebrating again, we take you to …
March 22nd: It’s “39 and Holding DAY”! YES last year
I created this day for the calendars, on which all 39ers can
celebrate a day together—regardless of when your birthday is, when you reached
the magic marker of life, or how many you’ve had since! Enjoy this day of 39er
camaraderie.
In 2022 I
had BIG plans for this
year’s 39er celebration … obviously that didn’t work out. Undaunted, I will
aim for a 2024 blast. For now, feel free to join me, and/or create your
own, local celebration of 39ers! Don't forget to take a tour around
the 39AHC site, and especially today’s
page, which will give you more history on us, fun info about the day and
its connection to funnyman extraordinaire, Jack Benny, and the “As Young as You Feel”
movie! (Hints: It’s all about an “old buzzard” who’s company forced him to
retire at 65 years old. And look for the “bit part” played by up-and-coming
starlet, Marilyn Monroe!) Which leads us to …
*March
22nd: As Young as You Feel Day! It’s true—we tied
this day to our own 39AHC Day! It’s on the
calendars without an official
link, so we’re just adding it to our rollicking day of delicious fun for all
ages. I’ll warn you though, the movie of the same name is typical 1950s fare—full
of what once was female angst in a male-dominated world. I don't care
what the thought-police
say, you can’t erase history—and much of it now, is great fodder for laughing
at ourselves and enjoying how far we’ve progressed, despite protests of the
opposite. March 31st-April 2nd: Oh glory
be for puzzle people! Make sure your pen is filled with ink and head into American Crossword Puzzle Days.
It’s no secret 39ers love crosswords, but these head-noodling mainstays
of newspapers and puzzle books, is celebrating The 45th Annual American
Crossword Puzzle Tournament. The venerable contest is reveling in its
stature as the nation’s oldest and largest crossword competition, with Host and
Puzzlemaster Will
Shortz, crossword puzzle editor for New York Times.
֎ Monthly Song of Note ♪
In honor of Music in Our Schools Month, I chose #17 on KSTN/Stockton’s
radio Top 40 survey for March 1973
… “
Sing” by
The Carpenters. It just makes
you want to hum, tap your toes, or belt it out like no one is listening (the
linked version has lyrics!). Enjoy the simple pleasures that music brings your
soul while you peruse ...
more tuneful
tidbits to manifest your memories of 1973, and/or just keepin’ the Rock Rockin’
from 50 Years Ago
this Month!
֎ For 39ers who Follow the Stars …
Well, since I’m not posting this until March 21st, suffice it to
say, Pisces 39ers
(Feb 19-Mar 20), you already
know how your month is going and not much will change in the next couple of
weeks. Love has taken a front seat in March as you reconnect with your mate, or
feel the pull of amour, if single. You’ve also been a sensitive and loving
friend all month; keep up the good work!
Aries
39ers (Mar 21-April 19) have been marching to their own beat 
since birth and this month is no different, albeit a bit more
in a straight line … straight to a new job and/or a new love! Or, simply a new
way of looking at them. Your choice. Either way, it’s one of those “better in
the long run” decisions. So tread lightly. All-in-all, when Pluto enters
Aquarius for the first time in more than two hundred years (March 23-June 11),
we’ll all feel the urge to focus on our friends, the ways of the world, and a
concern for how we can help. Be alert.
֎ Aging with ATT-i-tude Platitude
There is one element of life that knows no boundaries, holds no prejudices,
and cares not about age. Music is magic … find your favorite and play, dance,
sing, or simply close your eyes and enjoy. ~ L. Rochelle
Sláinte! Happy UN-Birthday 39ers ~ MARCH
2023!
This one’s for you, kids – Steven, Pat
(IM), Susan and Jim (IM)!
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. 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<><><>
