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Cinco de Mayo Memories
If you aren’t familiar with the Cinco de Mayo celebration, it is a celebration of the defeat of the French, by a much smaller Mexican army, back in 1862. The battle was the Battle of Puebla. It is celebrated by people of Mexican heritage along with most of the United States. It is very evident by packed Mexican restaurants on May 5th every year. I’m almost positive that most of those celebrating this occasion are clueless as to why Cinco de Mayo is a celebrated holiday.
In fact, Cinco de Mayo has become very popular in the United States and has become one of the largest days of beer and wine sales in the U.S., thanks to promotion by the beer and wine industries. In Mexico, the lack of a big deal with Cinco de Mayo may be in part to the fact that a year after Mexico’s big win, France came back with a larger group of soldiers and defeated Mexico this time.
Puebla holds parades and festivals in honor of the time that they defeated a much larger group of French soldiers. They hold these activities each year. They even do a re-enactment of the battle, so if you are ever in Pueblo, Mexico on May 5th, it could be a day filled with entertainment possibly worth going out of your way to see.
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A Walk Down Memory Lane
Each of us will have childhood memories that will be different from our children and grandchildren. I’m not talking so much about places we went, what we were taught in school, or what we had for dinner. I’m talking about things that used to be popular when we were kids, but are no longer around.
Back in the ’60s and ’70s, we had candy that for the most part, is not available today, unless you go to a specialty candy store that sells the candy we used to get when we were younger. Remember having the candy cigarettes? How about Clove gum? Wax lips? They can’t be purchased at your local grocery store anymore.
Long gone for the car lot, is my first car, a Ford Pinto. My husband’s first car was a Chevy Impala. The Impala has stood the test of time and can still be found at a Chevy dealer, however, it is much more modern.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane and visit a few of the things that we had, but for the most part they are gone, just like my Ford Pinto, never to return.
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2021 Goals – March Update
Here is my list for 2021
- Status: Complete our front yard landscaping. This is an absolute must since it’s carried over from last year.
- Status: Lose 5 pounds. I lowered this, but since I ended the year up instead of down, I am going to lose 5 pounds from my beginning weight of 2020, not 2021.
- Status: Ancestry: Type up the list I already have started on my mom’s mother’s side. Spend time contacting at least 2 cousins. I have reduced this goal to a more doable goal.
- Progress: I have finished 12 books. I am on track to make this one. Read 45 books.
- Status: Ride my bike. This can be a challenge because of my balance issues that seem like they will be permanent.
- Progress: Visit three states that I have not visited before. This was a great goal last year and we did it, despite Covid shutdowns. I’ve already picked the states, so I am ready to start planning. This month I changed my three states to include a visit to an old friend and I’ve started looking for things to do in those states.
- Progress: I’m doing much better than last year. I have three baby quilts cut out already. Complete 3 quilts. Adult or baby. I might get working on a quilt for my son-in-law and one for my daughter-in-law.
- Progress: I’m not as far as I should be, yet I have walked 156 miles. Walk 1000 miles. I have attempted this for 3 years and never reached it. This year it is in writing so I hope I will complete it at last.
In March, I only made progress on four of my eight items. That is one more than the previous month.
Of course, my weight has once again gone up. Too much stress in my life right now is what I blame it on. But it’s really my fault no matter what I blame it on. I’m the one that buys the cookies at the grocery store.
How are you doing? I’m hoping that now that it is spring I will make more progress.
Unbelievable Dale Chihuly
Unbelievable Dale Chihuly? Who is Dale Chihuly? Why am I asking? I never heard of him until I took an art class at the local junior college. I am not an art lover or a person that really knows much about art. But thanks to that art class. I began to love his work. It’s beautiful and elegant and amazing. And his creations are absolutely unbelievable.
My favorite artist has become Dale Chihuly. It used to be Christine Rosamond. I actually have two of her paintings in my home They are actually copies. If the paintings I have were originals I wouldn’t have them on my wall. I couldn’t afford them. Dale Chihuly’s art is not something easily copied. I’ve actually never seen his art for sale, only on display at museums. However, I’m sure it would be out of my price range. In fact, way out of my price range. And if I had a piece of his art, I would spend my time making sure no one touched it or broke it. And that would not be good, for a piece of art, to take that much of my time.
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Solving the Medicare Maze
How good are you at solving mazes? They can be really difficult for me at times. There are people that find it difficult to figure out their Medicare decisions. It is like a maze to them. If they make the wrong choice, they can get lost and confused. I’m here to help you in solving the Medicare maze.
Three to six months prior to your 65th birthday you will receive a book from the Department of Health & Human Services, entitled “Medicare and You.” It says “the official U.S. Government Medicare handbook” at the very top. This is the most comprehensive information you will receive. It could be the only book you will need to read. You do not have to read every word, but it’s a great resource for clarifying things. Keep this book until you have made your decisions and maybe for the rest of your life in case you want to make changes in the future.
You should also receive your Medicare card from CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It should be in the same envelope as Medicare & You. It is a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 piece of heavy-weight paper. This is your actual Medicare card. If you want Part B, you keep this card, cutting or tearing it out of that paper. Put it in your wallet. You only need it when you get medical services, so you can choose to carry it for medical appointments only. But then you need to remember to take it with you every time you have an appointment. Likely, you won’t have it in an emergency. However, your insurance plan may send you a card to use that will be plastic, like a credit card. If you do not want part B you would follow the directions and return the entire card back to Western Program Service Center. They will send you a new card.
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