August Celebrations
Barnaby with Frank Fox and Baby Chick. Books and Taffy Container New Calendar
It’s the somber month of August – no holidays unless you count the Olympics and the Democratic Convention. There is, of course, National S’mores Day on the 10th and National Waffle Day on the 24th. I intend to celebrate both of them. Today is International Cats Day. Furry felines all over the world are celebrated. Most importantly, tomorrow is National Book Lovers Day. Diana, my daughter, is fussing that we have so many books that we’ll have to get a new bookcase soon. I don’t understand the fuss – having books around makes me feel cozy and reminds me of special trips that I’ve taken inside my head. When I’m reading I can be any character that I want and be the heroine of my own adventure. So, thank you all of you volumes of happiness.
On another note, Diana went to Atlantic City, New Jersey on a business trip and was supposed to bring back saltwater taffy. She didn’t. What’s a girl supposed to do? I immediately ordered taffy from Taffy.com. I ordered three different flavors all yummy and have shared them with anyone who comes over. The taffy comes in these adorable containers that are round with the happiest curvy stripes of indigo, turquoise, orange, strawberry, and raspberry. The lids fit on just so. Well, now I’m at the end of my taffy binge and must decide what to do with the containers. They’re so cute that I hesitate to throw them out, but what to do? If you have any suggestions, please write in.
Of course, I shouldn’t eat any taffy. Each one is 27 mindless calories. The box says that each is a Vacation in a Bite…When I do my exercises with the pink elastic bands I try not to think of how many vacation bites I took. Barnaby, our dog, tries to help me get rid of mindless calories by throwing one of his toys in front of me then taunting me to try to pick it up. When I stop pulling at the pink band I bend down and just as I get my fingers on “Frank Fox” or “dead Duck (he doesn’t squeak anymore)” Barnaby quickly snatches it up. This results in chasing and so goodbye to the pink band. Barnaby is much more fun.
I finished reading Joe Hustle by Richard Lange – I don’t know why it was a best seller –Agatha Christie’s They do It with Mirrors this last week and am about to start on Christie’s Dumb Witness (it has the most darling dog in it) and Antoine Laurain’s French Windows. In the midst of these I read a couple of Sherlock Holmes stories and started working seriously on my own book Spell Death. Barnaby hates when I read and tries to push the book out of my hands. He's an attention grabber.
School is starting this coming week for so many youngsters. This is the first year that I’ve held off buying new pencils or crayons or some item that holds treasures for my desk. It’s silly, but school starting is like a chance to start new, take a breath and try on new behaviors, make more friends, and impress a new teacher. I did buy a new calendar and have been carting it around with me on the tray of my rollator. I haven’t written in it yet although every doctor I go to (and they’re legion) has given me appointments that fit in the calendar. It must be written in with a pencil with a perfect point and underlined with a color pencil that is specific to the specialty. I still have time to make it as inviting as I can although I’m retired. It’s the mark of an old lover of school.
Have a happy National Book Lover’s Day. Make the book you choose one that takes you to a place that you never dreamed you’d visit!