Category: Cate Rees-Hessel

Hispanic Heritage Month in an ICE Age

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Hispanic Heritage Month in an ICE Age

Hispanic Heritage Month in an ICE Age

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. Enjoy a dessert of flan or rice pudding
  2. Watch a Hispanic themed movie in the comfort of your own living room
  3. Check your local library for Latinx materials – many libraries offer delivery services to card holders
  4. Order Hispanic specialties from a local grocery that delivers groceries
  5. A good old Mexican hat dance or other traditional Latinx movement in the family room can be fun
  6. Teach children about Hispanic culture
  7. Drape the dining room table with newspaper and create a Latinx craft
  8. Decorate your family room with colorful decor
  9. Dress in traditional Hispanic clothes right at home.
  10. Write letters and cards to loved ones elsewhere in the world
  11. Remember loved ones that have passed on with Day of the Dead traditions
  12. Mexican coffee or a traditional hot chocolate on a chilly night is delicious
  13. What the heck – drink a Corona, Dos Equis, or Tecate
  14. Learn about the various Hispanic ethnicities – our differences can bring us together
  15. I am boycotting Goya due to their reputed Trump support, if you care to join in
  16. Join Illinois Governor Pritzker in boycotting WGN and ABC until Jimmy Kimmel returns to the air
  17. Enjoy a refreshing Mexican Coke
  18. Drink a delicious Jarritos flavor drink all natural fruit flavors
  19. An appetizer of chips and salsa is always a great meal starter
  20. Learn to say “I love you” in Spanish, Portuguese, and sign language
  21. Resist the current administration by sharing articles on social media and signing petitions
  22. Remember to pray for one another, stand together with the Hispanic community even if you are not Latinx, and be proud of our common heritage
  23. Keep friends and neighbors updated when you hear about ICE raids in your area
  24. Have a taco Tuesday party at home with favorite south of the border favs
  25. Enjoy Mexican street corn in the slow cooker – recipes can be found online or message me for mine

Our sense of family and our commitment to community are some of the things we can share and be proud of. We must stick together, as Americans; not blacks, whites, or Latino,  as we strive for better days ahead.

Don’t You Remember?

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Don’t You Remember ?

Don’t You Remember ?

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

I loved the break out hit when the band originally known as Jefferson Airplane became Starship – we are musically reminded “We Built This City on Rock and Roll.” Jefferson anything brings on music that I love and that song is my favorite of theirs. This brings me to another thought regarding memory, as we remember a very dark twenty-four years ago. “Don’t you remember” we built this nation on democracy and toil, not dictatorship and racism.

“Don’t you remember” the first term of Donald Trump? As a college student in 1985, I danced on my chair at the Pittsburgh PA Civic Arena to the tunes of Starship and Night Ranger, full of hope for the future despite the fact Geraldine Ferraro would not be our first female Vice President on the Mondale-Ferraro ticket. I loved this intelligent, beautiful, and Godly woman. Disappointed they lost the election, but still I knew in my heart we one day would have a female in office. Then another major and frightening disappointment when Hillary Clinton lost to an incompetent and delusional opponent.

Hope was restored after Trump’s disastrous first term, when President Joe Biden brought us our first female VP,  the intelligent, kind but tough, beautiful Kamala Harris. I cried for twenty minutes after she proudly said “…so help me God” – the glass ceiling was finally broken and we were never going back. My heart broke when President Biden bowed out of the 2024 election, but right here in Chicago, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz accepted the Democratic nomination. A winning team and our first female president, finally. Then the unthinkable occurred – without all the votes counted, it was announced that Donald Trump, the most incompetent non-president to ever hold office, had been re-elected.

“Don’t you remember” Trump’s horrific first term, with millions dead from the COVID pandemic? “We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll…” We built this country on honesty and broke away from a king in 1776 – there is no king of America. “Say you don’t know me or recognize my face” – well, remember my face and my words, because I will not be silenced by a dictator. “Say you don’t care who goes to that kind of place” –  I care who goes into the White House, that’s for sure. “Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight” – we sure do need our hip waders dealing with the MAGA s..t, but we will not sink in our fight, not now, not ever. “Too many runaways eating up the night” – we won’t run, we face the night without fear.

“Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?” Our radios bring bad news each day, but when “The Donald” is finally impeached, we will dance the mamba in the streets and party ’til dawn. “We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll, built this city, we built this city on rock and roll”, not on hatred and toil. “Someone’s always playing corporation games, who cares they’re always changing corporation names“, while the GOP gives tax breaks to the biggest corporate structures, taking food and medicine away from those in need. “We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage, they call us irresponsible, write us off the page“, but we will never be written off, Mr. Trump, we will continue to resist.

“Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember? We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll…” Impeach the convicted felon before he does more damage, before more billionaires receive more tax breaks, before Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security cease to exist.

“We built, we built this city, yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city (Built this city)”

“Don’t you remember” when our nation was strong, proud, and a world leader, not a laughing stock? We just remember what we were and can be again, just as we must remember 9/11, when our nation gathered together in the face of hatred and terrorism; we survived and thrived. We can do it once again, as long as we remember that America is a democracy, a melting pot of humanity, built on the strength of our values, not the weakness of hatred. We built this country on morality, diversity, and hope.

“We built this city

We built this city on rock and roll

Built this city

We built this city on rock and roll

 

Say you don’t know me or recognize my face

Say you don’t care who goes to that kind of place

Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight

Too many runaways eating up the night

 

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

Someone’s always playing corporation games

Who cares, they’re always changing corporation names

We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage

They call us irresponsible, write us off the page

 

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

It’s just another Sunday in a tired old street

Police have got the choke hold, oh, then we just lost the beat

 

Who counts the money underneath the bar?

Who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars?

Don’t tell us you need us ’cause we’re the ship of fools

Looking for America, coming through your schools

 

Don’t you remember? (Remember)

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

We built, we built this city, yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city (Built this city)”

How to be a Feminine Feminist

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How to be a Feminine Feminist

How to be a Feminine Feminist

Editor: I love it.

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

I have always been both a girly girl and staunch feminist – a true Elle Woods, from Legally Blonde fame. Below are a few ways to embrace your inner princess without sacrificing your feminist being:

  1. Wear something pearl everyday for Kamala, the woman who should be President.
  2. Read anything written by Gloria Steinem while getting a pedicure.
  3. Suggest a showing of “Legally Blonde” at your local library (next year is the 25th anniversary…).
  4. Invite friends over to watch the “Barbie” movie and everybody wear pink.
  5. Show your Ken some affection and I don’t mean the doll.
  6. Run for office wearing pretty dresses and, if you can walk in them, a pair of Prada pumps.
  7. Always look your best – when you feel confident you are taken seriously.
  8. Remain well groomed at all times.
  9. Encourage other ladies – call each other beautiful, sexy, and sisters.
  10. Know beauty comes from within.
  11. Recognize beauty comes in all shapes, colors, sizes, ages, and ethnicities.
  12. Don’t go after someone else’s significant other – if you can’t keep a love interest, ask yourself why.
  13. A blush and quiet giggle are okay if followed by an intelligent wisecrack.
  14. Never belch or pass gas in public – you don’t have to be rude to sit at the boys table.
  15. Turn the boys table into the women’s table with your intelligence and wit.
  16. If the guys don’t give you a seat at the table, follow the wisdom of the immortal Shirley Chisolm and bring a folding chair (mine is pink).
  17. Nail biters most often don’t win – keep them groomed.
  18. Take a bubble bath while reading law journals.
  19. Remember Adam and Eve both disobeyed God, not just Eve. As a favorite comic of mine would say, “Where’s the dude?”
  20. Channel Geraldine Ferraro.
  21. Watch “Clueless” in celebration of its 30th anniversary – “as if” Trump actually won the election. “My bad” NOT, because I didn’t vote for “The Donald” – I proudly voted Harris-Walz.
  22. Volunteer for a female candidate’s campaign, as long as they’re not a Trump supporter.
  23. Host a tea for a feminist organization, serving cucumber cream cheese sandwiches and lemon scones on floral china.
  24. Never let them see you sweat – hide your tears from those that mean you harm.
  25. Watch a WNBA game.
  26. Join NOW and campaign for girls and women in sports – go to bat for them.
  27. Be a Ms. even if you’re a Miss or a Mrs.
  28. Stand up for yourself and other women – it’s all about internal sisterhood.
  29. God gave us emotions – they are normal. Don’t be afraid to show them, but don’t let anyone use them against you.
  30. Buy some bad ass lipstick and earrings.
  31. Accessorize and put your pretty game face on.
  32. Dance like everyone is watching.
  33. Drink a mocha latte.
  34. Get a facial or do one at home.
  35. Go to a thrift store for some retail therapy and look for some vintage issues of MS magazine, Vogue, Elle, and Glamour, then do a reading swap with friends.
  36. Read “Whiskey in a Teacup” by Reese Witherspoon.
  37. Have a Reese Witherspoon movie marathon and include both “Legally Blonde’s.
  38. Watch reruns of “That Girl” because Marlo Thomas is an empowered feminist.
  39. Watch reruns of “Murder She Wrote” because J.B. Fletcher was a well-dressed, well-mannered bad ass.
  40. Campaign for Kamala Harris to take her rightful place in the Oval Office in 2028.

 

 

Self-Care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

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Self-care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

Self-care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

By Cate Rees-Hessel

These tariffs are taxes on the American people! Do not bend the knee to Donnie Dictator.  These tariffs are fucking illegal. The tariffs game is nothing more than an arm twisting exercise by Donald Trump to bring corporate America to heel. Sadly his tactics are costing the average American big time. The most needy are as usual hit the hardest,  but that’s nothing new with this  president.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has in public statements said that tariffs are raising prices here in the United States and is negatively affecting consumers. Economic strife is stressful and many of us are facing uncertainty in the our futures, the threat of losing many hard earned benefits, especially seniors, the disabled, and families with children is terrifying. It’s even worse than I imagined when I heard Trump was re-elected. He has approved of drastic cuts to many vital programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare. A Democratic Senate and House can heal our economy, so vote in every election. Remember that Social Security is our money that we worked for and we are entitled to – use it wisely in these crazy economic times. This too shall pass, hopefully sooner than later.

During these times self care is more important than ever but how do we afford to take care our selves, our families and also remain healthy and sane. Here are some suggestions and helpful tips to weather the storm:

  1. Grocery prices are outrageous; try eggless recipes and vegetarian dishes – both healthy and economical. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  2. Use outdated yogurt and past their prime fruits for face masks and cuticle treatments.
  3. Join rewards programs, and look for coupons and deals online.
  4. Look for free shipping.
  5. Join a warehouse club to purchase in bulk. Purchasing family or jumbo sizes are often cheaper by the ounce or count (though not always, so double-check), when you can afford the initial cash outlay. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  6. Consider split payment programs – some even offer a debit type card to use in store as well as online. Often fees are minimal and most are interest free. Some of these services even offer monthly installment options – down payments are usually low, and minimum purchases vary from very low to mid ranges.
  7. Invite a multi level marketing representative to do a spa day at your home. Tutorials are available online to learn to do your own mani-pedi, facial, and haircuts. There are also many good at-home hair colors available.
  8. Shop local to save on gas.
  9. Look for special discounts on pharmaceuticals and the like. Many places offer AARP, student, and/or military discounts. Seek out scholarships, as well, for education.
  10. Consider clothes swaps, reselling on eBay, Poshmark, Marcari, Facebook Marketplace or local consignment-type shops that buy used goods. Try bartering to save on funds, and use your creativity to make money. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  11. Seek out free library and park district/recreation department programs.
  12. Look for no annual fee, cash back, and lower interest credit cards.
  13. Pay off balances when you can to avoid interest.
  14. Opt for fee-free checking accounts.
  15. Try a side gig – there are many opportunities online, but double-check online ratings and with friends for legitimacy. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  16. Consider a private mechanic versus a chain shop.
  17. Consider a vocational school for car repairs – instructors oversee the work to keep it safe.
  18. Teachers also oversee at beauty school clinics and work is done by senior students.
  19. Offer to be a haircut, hair color, or manicure model.
  20. Ask for samples prior to buying anything. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  21. Drugstore cosmetics are often as good as department store but be very wary of any thing made in China, sometime labeled as PRC. Even items that have U.S., Canada, Korea, Mexico, Turkey, or the like components that are assembled in China, I personally still avoid. Be extra careful when shopping in dollar stores. Make sure pet products are safe and nutritionally complete. Read labels on anything you purchase.
  22. Sign up to be a cosmetic, jewelry, or other merchandise company rep to get discounts on products and access to samples.
  23. Take advantage of streaming services – many offer new subscriber and returning subscriber specials, as well as access to new movies being shown in theaters or released recently.
  24. Prime Days, Walmart Days and Black Friday-type specials are often worth the time and effort, especially non-large purchases. Our local Fred Meyer’s has a first Tuesday of the month 10% senior discount.
  25. Clearance items that are not outdated can save a lot of money, especially after season discounted items. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  26. Many restaurants of all levels are offering special pricing or deals these days. If you are a veteran, or an ARRP member remember to ask for your discount. It’s usually enough to give pay your tip.
  27. Going out of business sales can offer up to 75-90% off deals.
  28. Homemade beauty items are often excellent, effective, and safe – the same goes for home created cleaning products.
  29. Consider thrifting or purchasing pre-owned. It’s okay to re-gift, but be discreet.
  30. Local theaters often need volunteer ushers which allows free access to their productions.

Remember, if we stick together and resist the current administration, we can get through this. So add a scarf or costume jewelry to last year’s ensemble to change up your look; show up for local rallies and sign those email petitions to make your voice known. Impeachment should be a given but Trumpty Dumpty still owns his Republican congress. Remember, keep well groomed and steadfast in faith as we all pray, hope, and wish for the day we are rid of the Trump-Vance dictatorship.

Trump and his henchmen are going to do everything possible to tinker, I mean ‘eff with the 2026 election. The higher the turnout the harder it is to skew the results. So, damn it, VOTE! Deciding to consciously not vote just plays into Trump’s hands. Don’t let cynicism keep you from the polls.

You Still Might be a Woman of a Certain Age

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You May be a Woman of a Certain Age 

You May be a Woman of a Certain Age 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If you were and are a Charlie Girl, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you know how to use a pencil to dial a rotary phone and save your manicure
  3. If you know what a rotary dial phone is, you might be a woman of a certain age.
  4. If you watched Scooby Doo on Saturday mornings while eating Fruit Loops
  5. If you know who, not what the Banana Splits are, you just might be a woman of a certain age.
  6. If you know the lyrics to the Archies “Sugar, Sugar”
  7. If you know who the Archies are
  8. If you know who Caroline Keene is
  9. If you know who Nancy Drew is
  10. If you know who Franklin W. Dixon is
  11. If you know who the Hardy Boys are
  12. If you know who Gertrude Chandler Warner is you just might be a woman of a certain age.
  13. If you know who the Boxcar Children are
  14. If you “wear a Coke and a smile”
  15. If you ordered a Peter Pan collared blouse from the Sears Roebuck catalog
  16. If you had a Montgomery Ward credit card and called it a “charge-a-plate”
  17. If you ever owned a transistor radio or portable record player
  18. If you watched America Bandstand every week
  19. If you know who Dick Clark was
  20. If you shopped at Thom McCann for platform shoes you just might be a woman of a certain age.
  21. If you still own bell bottoms but were never in the Navy
  22. If you know who Barnaby Jones was
  23. If you know who Buddy Ebsen was
  24. If you know who Lee Merriweather is
  25. If you call Uber and Lyft taxi cabs
  26. If you call 7-11 the corner store
  27. If you know what a penny arcade was
  28. If you remember “Me and my RC”
  29. If your spell checker was made by Miriam Webster
  30. If you know who Miriam Webster was
  31. If you attended the Barbizon School of Modeling
  32. If you attended John Robert Powers Finishing School you just might be a woman of a certain age.
  33. If you know what modeling and finishing schools are
  34. If you attended White Gloves and Party Manners classes at a local department store
  35. If you ever owned white gloves that weren’t for winter
  36. If you ever went through the Red Door
  37. If you read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” in school
  38. If you had a color plastic sheet that went over your bunny eared black and white TV set
  39. If you had a silver metallic Christmas tree with a multi-color light wheel
  40. If you think retro and vintage are the latest fashions, you just might be a woman of a certain age.

 

Vol.119

What We Could Have Had

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We Could Have Had The Bright, Beautiful Black Lady

Kamala Harris, fulfillment of the American dream. Vote Blue 2024 Biden/Harris

What We Could Have Had

We Could Have Had The Bright, Beautiful Black Lady

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Regrets?

I wonder if anyone that voted for “The Donald” is finally tired of the insanity and has regrets. I recall years ago the Dream Date game – you could get a handsome male or the dud; we sure got The dud. A popular game show allows contestants the opportunity to choose curtains number one, two, or three but beware, a booby prize is behind one of those curtains. We got zonked big time, but unlike that game of chance, the deal those who voted for the orange monster was a deal made with the Devil.

We Had Our Chance

We had the golden opportunity to elect the most accomplished, the most beautiful,  the most gracious, and the most compassionate, and highly intelligent attorney-prosecutor to ever seek the presidency, but those who are ruled by racism and sexism chose the weak wizard behind the ugly curtain. Now we’ve been zonked and I don’t know if I can last another 1270 days. Below are some prevailing truths because we regretfully did not elect the smart, beautiful Black lady to run our nation:

  1. When the tariffs prevent you from getting what you need or want, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  2. When I.C.E. takes your loved ones away, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  3. When you can’t afford groceries, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  4. When your wife, sister, or daughter can’t get medical care, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  5. When none of us have health care, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  6. When the Social Security money we all worked for goes to pay Elon Musk’s debts, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  7. When the war in the Ukraine rages on with no hope in sight, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  8. When we are at war with Iran, including the likely terrorist attacks here, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  9. When children have empty plates to fund a want-to-be dictator’s military birthday parade, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  10. Even though he and “The Donald” have parted ways, the unfettered power given to Elon Musk has already strongly contributed to running our nation into the ground and his new political party as dangerous as he is, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  11. When eggs remain at five dollars a carton, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  12. Biden capped inulin at $35.00; Trump dropped the cap so insulin is now unaffordable for seniors, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  13. When school lunches are cancelled and children go hungry, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  14. When shootings continue to rise, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  15. When Medicaid and Medicare are no more, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  16. When veterans benefits are no more, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  17. When the National Guard is sent into a peaceful protest, remember January 6th; and that we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  18. When the Gulf of Mexico is referred to as the Gulf of America, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  19. When only billionaires get tax breaks, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
  20. When you wake up drenched in sweat from a nightmare because you voted for Trump, remember…we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady. We could have had Kamala Harris.

Deranged and Demented

Shame on the racist sexists who voted a mentally deranged narcissist with dementia back into the Oval Office, along with his slimy new sidekick JD Vance; instead we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady, as our President. Kamala Harris and the delightful, down-to-earth schoolteacher/coach/governor Tim Walz at her side. This was a pair that I proudly voted for.

A Long Wait

I have been waiting for our first female President since Shirley Chisholm, Geraldine Ferraro, and Hilary Clinton. Richard Nixon predicted in 1970 that within the next 50 years we would certainly elect a woman president. Well, according to Nixon we are past the time to elect a woman president of the United States.

Thank You, Joe

Thank you, President Joe Biden for helping us smash the glass ceiling; making Kamala Harris the first woman Vice President of the United States. Please join me in wearing something pearl white in the honor of the early suffragettes who demanded the right of women to vote, and our recent presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Summer Beauty

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Summer Beauty and Entertainment Tips

 

Summer Beauty and Entertainment Tips

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Summer is here – we want to look our best while we enjoy the warm temperatures. Don’t let Trump’s tariffs ruin your fun in the sun. Here are some time and money saving ideas for the hot weather months:

 

  1. Use safe sunscreen – the FDA considers only two active ingredients as “generally recognized as safe and effective” – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
  2. Moisturize your body after sun or pool exposure.
  3. Use a gel based moisturizer in hot weather to avoid breakouts.
  4. Make your own body scrubs with sugar, salt, and olive or coconut oils.
  5. Shave often but if you use a disposable razor, change it out after just a few uses.
  6. Use a toner or astringent straight from the refrigerator.
  7. Create a sunburn cream and keep it in the fridge, should you get burned.
  8. Shower or bathe often but use a moisture laden body wash or soap.
  9. Use a non-aluminum deodorant with antiperspirant – try an all over deodorant.
  10. Take advantage of water parks, pools and beaches – enjoy the water but practice water safety.
  11. Enjoy picnics and barbecues, but be mindful of food safety and sanitation. Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer and dry off with paper towels if soap and water are unavailable. Lysol public restrooms in parks and picnic areas. Keep food cold and line public grills with tin foil. Never cross contaminate utensils by using them for raw and cooked food. Separate serving spoons, forks, spatulas, and tongs – rinsing is not sufficient. Carry used items home to be washed in a plastic bag or use disposable cutlery. Do not allow flames to touch food – this produces carcinogens. Do not use non-potable water to wash foods. Never rinse chicken. Wash vegetables and fruit before cooking or consuming to avoid food borne illness.
  12. Summer clothes can be fun and fashionable but beachwear is for the beach, not church, work, or entertainment venues. Get dressed before heading out…
  13. Enjoy outdoor concerts and films – many are free. Take along a bag chair, sweater, non perishable snacks and beverages in insulated reusable bottles but wash them often, after each use. Remember insect repellent for outdoor activities.
  14. A Christmas in July party can be fun. Use a few of your winter decorations to save money on decor. Remember that animals, small children, and those with PTSD, for whom it can trigger flashbacks, don’t like fireworks – please be mindful of this. Small children might enjoy them with earplugs. Consider a parade or picnic during the day but do remember that the five second rule on dropped food does not apply. It’s simply not sanitary or safe to consume what has fallen on the ground.
  15. Have a summer clothing and jewelry swap to remain fashionable on a budget. Be careful with jewelry in the pool – certain stones and gold don’t mix well with the chlorinated water.
  16. Shells are a pretty addition to a porch or patio – so are driftwood and sea glass.
  17. Splash pads are often free or low cost, but many have no locker rooms or showers, and may not have restrooms. Often they are near by facilities with public restrooms so plan accordingly. Do a dry run to figure out the lay of the land before you get your swimsuit ready for a day at the splash park.
  18. Enjoy summer starlit nights with the use of a telescope.
  19. A flower and vegetable garden are not only pretty but practical. Check out a community vegetable patch.
  20. Grill fruit, have an ice cream social, or open a lemonade stand for charity. Summer bake sales can be fun but be careful of chocolate or frosting melting. In addition to campfire s’mores, try bananas split down the center with marshmallows, chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips. Wrap in foil for the fire but be careful when removing them – tin foil can cause burns on your hands and fingers.
  21. Ready your car for road trips by checking oil and tire pressure. Keep water, coolant, and jumper cables handy. Have a good spare tire in your vehicle and join a motor club. Never leave children or pets in hot cars. Consider rail or bus travel.
  22. If you recall days gone by, reminiscing is great but don’t drink from the garden hose or catch fireflies or ladybugs in a jar, even with holes poked in the lid. Let them live in their God-given environment – enjoy looking at them in nature.
  23. Enjoy marina activities but be very careful about boating safety. Never cross alcohol with navigating, and always use life jackets, especially with children, those unable to swim, older adults, and pets.
  24. Take advantage of travel discounts and resident swaps.
  25. Remember to stay hydrated in heat. Don’t ruin your summer with a trip to the emergency room. Avoid caffeine and don’t over indulge alcoholic beverages. Having a fun summer means moderation and sense – don’t risk heat or sun stroke. Enjoy the warm weather – it only lasts a few months…

Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

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Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

Editor: Also called Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is the commemoration of June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX, learned that they were free.

Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but it only applied to people in Confederate states, not those enslaved in Union-held territories (they were not freed until the proclamation of the 13th Amendment). In Texas, a Confederate state where there was little Union Army presence, slavery continued years after the Emancipation Proclamation — and even after the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 —most enslaved people in Texas were not aware of the news. Finally, in June of 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and a contingent of Union troops landed in Galveston, Texas to tell the enslaved peoples that the Civil War had ended and that they were now free. Something worth celebrating, I’d say.

Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

By Cate Rees-Hessel

Thanks to President Joe Biden, Juneteenth is now a national holiday, as it long should have been. Here are some meaningful ways to celebrate this historic holiday with loved ones:

  1. Wear a Juneteenth T-shirt – my husband and I each have one (mine is pink).
  2. Teach a child about actual Black history.
  3. Teach a child about Abraham Lincoln, a president who was not afraid to end slavery, even if it caused the Civil War.
  4. Attend a Juneteenth event – towns all over the country are celebrating.
  5. Make a donation to the Obama Foundation – obama.org or the NAACP – www.naacp.org.
  6. Make a donation to the United Negro College Fund – after all, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” uncf.org
  7. Watch “The Color Purple” or “Roots”.
  8. Read “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf”
  9. Watch “A Raisin in the Sun”.
  10. Check out the Juneteenth book displays at your local library.
  11. Look for Juneteenth museum displays.
  12. Have a soul food picnic.
  13. Read about the Obamas, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ family.
  14. Research Hakeem Jeffries.
  15. Research Cory Booker.
  16. Post about Junteenth on social media.
  17. Read about the slaves that positively affected the life of Dolley Madison.
  18. Wish people a blessed and happy Juneteenth.
  19. Do something for holiday fun: water park, bike ride, enjoy summer on this new holiday.
  20. Resist racism by protesting against Trump – help save our democracy.
  21. Read about apartheid and Nelson Mandela.
  22. Many Black males are targeted for crimes they do not commit – tell a Black man you love and believe in him.
  23. Support Black owned businesses ( add a few)
  24. Watch Black television shows, listen to Black radio: letsstaytogethertalkshow.com, www.soarradio.com, and visit Black social media: www.facebook.com/theofficialplussizepower/.
  25. Pray for President Biden’s health, and thank him for making this holiday possible.

What Flag Day Means to Me

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What Flag Day Means To Me

What Flag Day Means to Me

Editor: Flag Day, celebrated on June 14th, commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress in 1777.  While the day was first observed nationally in 1877 and celebrated by various communities during the Civil War to support the union troops, it wasn’t until 1949 that President Harry Truman signed a congressional resolution officially designating June 14th as Flag Day.

Over the last decade it has seemed as if the MAGA crowd had hi-jacked our flag; but that is only a fact if we allow it. I will not hide my flag, I will fly it proudly. My flag will not adorn the back of a pick up truck flapping and shredded from the wind. No I will honor that red, white, and blue symbol. of our bond. 

 

Ways to Celebrate the American Flag

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

June 14th, Flag Day, is not a day for fake kings, it is a day to honor our flag, which stands for freedom and those who fought for it. Trump is a 35 count convicted felon. He incited the January 6th, insurrection. He is a traitor to everything our flag stands for. Here are ways to celebrate Flag Day, un-MAGA style:

  1. June 14th – celebrate our nation’s flag-not Trump’s birthday
  2. Celebrate Juneteenth.
  3. June is LGBTQ month – let’s celebrate
  4. Show your colors. Fly your stars and stripes right next to the Pride flag, the Breast Cancer Awareness flag, My Body My Choice flag, or how about a blue and yellow Ukraine flag. I support them all
  5. Have your Father’s Day celebration include at least one same-sex couples that are dads, like Pete and Chasten Buttigieg
  6. Cookouts, picnics, and celebrations that honor diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  7. Have a vegetarian cookout or party.
  8. Support our military.
  9. Plant a tree in honor of a vet.
  10. Pray for our troops in the Middle East
  11. Teach a class about “Liberty for All”
  12. A day at the water park or pool can be a learning experience with books written by progressive authors or your favorite website on your tablet, perhaps Calamity News and Politics….
  13. Teach the truth about Francis Scott Key and the song that became our National Anthem. I respect the song but the attorney that wrote the words had a serious racist streak that troubles me. I feel much the same about Christopher Columbus
  14. Advocate for “God Bless America” to become our National Anthem and Leif Ericsson as the first European in the Americas
  15. Boycott Tesla and Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire, better known as one of the oligarchs who bought the 2024 election for “The Donald”
  16. Support NATO.  Fly NATO’s dark blue flag with it’s centered white compass next to the red, white and blue.
  17. Visit your library for information on democracy and how we are supposed to do it here.  I love my library.
  18. Offer to teach a class at the local community college on significant black women that shaped  America, like  Shirley Chisholm, Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll · Harriet Tubman · Maya Angelou · Rosa Parks · Misty Copeland, to name just a few.
  19. Know before you speak; teach Black history with accuracy to those around you.
  20. Denounce any parade for Trump’s birthday. America has no king and money should not be wasted on this foolishness when there is a threat to necessary federal programs that many of our nations citizens rely on
  21. Teach a teen how to read and write cursive so they can read historical documents
  22. Be woke
  23. Stand up against tariffs that are a tax on Americans
  24. Stand against ICE murders and imprisonment
  25. Stand firm in your convictions against tyranny and greed.

“God bless America, my home sweet home.”

Stand for right. Join the Resistance.

 

More Woman of a Certain Age Wisdom, Vol 112

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More Woman of a Certain Age Wisdom, Vol 112

Woman of a Certain Age Wisdom, Vol 112

By Cate Rees-Hessel

  1.   If you recall the opening of the first drive through in the area, you might just be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If Jean Nate, Youth Dew, Chanel Number Five, Sweet Honesty, Love’s Baby Soft, or Charlie are your favorite fragrances…
  3. If you have been to a drive-in movie on date night…
  4. If you know what a rumble seat is…
  5. If your date ever ran out of gas…or had a flat tire…
  6. If you know where Superman changed his clothes…
  7. If you ever used a pay phone…
  8. If you know what a toll call was…
  9. If you had a long distance calling plan…
  10. If you still have a landline…
  11. If you know what a landline is…or a party line…
  12. If you used Noxzema to wash your face, Sea Breeze to tone and Clearasil cream…
  13. If you ever pinched your cheeks in lieu of blusher…
  14. If you refer to blusher as rouge…
  15. If you have been using Maybelline Great Lash Mascara since you were a teenager…
  16. If you had an original Baby Alive or Susie Cute doll…
  17. If you had an original Barbie, Ken, Midge, or Alan doll…
  18. If your first car was a Mustang…
  19. If you attended the Barbizon or Powers School of Modeling and Finishing…
  20. If you know that a permanent wave is actually a perm…
  21. If you can sing and do the dance steps to the “Who wears short shorts, Nair for short shorts” jingle…
  22. If you still use cold cream or rose milk lotion…
  23. If you take Geritol vitamins…
  24. If you recall when hair mousse first came on the scene…
  25. If you call flip flops thongs…
  26. If you own a bathing cap, especially one with a rubber pink or orange flower…
  27. “Curlers in your hair, shame on you” – if you own curlers that don’t heat…
  28. If you ever made a jello mold…
  29. If you ever set your hair with flat beer…or rolled your hair on those super size cans…
  30. If you ever used a homemade egg white facial mask….