June 2019 JUNE 2019

The Dancing Plague June Birthdays

On June 24, 1374, a In astrology, those born between June 1–20 strange plague broke are Twins of Gemini. Twins have two distinct The Trumpeter out in the town of Aachen, and alluring sides to their personality: sociable Asbury Towers Retirement Community Germany. People poured and ready for fun, or serious and thoughtful. out of their houses Sometimes they feel as if one half is missing, and began to dance so they forever seek new friends. Those born uncontrollably in the between June 21–30 are Cancer’s Crabs. Kind streets to music that no and protective, Crabs love to nurture others. one could hear. According to local reports, the While they may be emotional, they are never dancers were unable to stop themselves. They soft. Cancers are tenacious in their pursuit danced until they collapsed in exhaustion. This of harmony at home and in the workplace. was the first major outbreak of “dancing mania” Marilyn Monroe (actress) – June 1, 1926 to sweep through Europe. Celebrating June Allen Ginsberg (poet) – June 3, 1926 Tom Jones (singer) – June 7, 1940 Birthdays Experts still do not know what caused this Jacques Cousteau (explorer) – June 11, 1910 Residents dancing mania. Some speculate that it may have Venus Williams (tennis pro) – June 17, 1980 been due to a poisonous fungus, ergot, that can Roger Ebert (film critic) – June 18, 1942 01 Beverly Wagoner grow on rye. Ergot poisoning can lead people Chet Atkins (guitarist) – June 20, 1924 02 Pat Aikman 04 Shawn Phillips to hallucinate and suffer spasms and delusions. Meryl Streep (actress) – June 22, 1949 It occurs mainly during the wet season, when 12 Gerald Cooper Pearl S. Buck (writer) – June 26, 1892 17 Gerald Beck conditions are rife for the growth of the fungus. Mel Brooks (actor) – June 28, 1926 21 Marjorie Cooper However, not all the documented accounts of Mike Tyson (boxer) – June 30, 1966 25 Della Decooman dancing mania correspond to those seasons. 25 Joyce Lively 27 Robert Newton

Many historians believe dancing mania to be Mountain-Sized Measurements a form of mass hysteria brought on by extreme suffering. In 1374, the villagers of Aachen were living in Mount Everest gets all the aftermath of a true plague, the Black Death that had the press as the world’s swept through Europe. The pious villagers, suffering tallest mountain, but severe psychological distress Mount Chimborazo in the as a result of disease, natural disasters, and famine, Andes in Ecuador may entered a mass trance state where they thought Staff themselves punished by God. Indeed, the Christian be larger, depending on your perspective. We martyr St. Vitus was widely known 03 Tim Wait to be celebrated in dance. For this reason, some should all be open to this possibility on June 3, 06 Theresa Hix even called the dancing mania St. Vitus’ dance. To Chimborazo Day. Measured from , the 15 Jennifer Horn corroborate this theory, historians look to another height of Mount Everest is 29,029 feet, while 19 Erin White dancing outbreak in 1518 in the city Mount Chimborazo is 20,549 feet. However, 19 Amelia Clark of Strasbourg. A woman named Frau Troffea began when measured from the center of Earth, 19 Michaela Tincher 24 Kris Beck to dance and, by the end of the month, 400 others Chimborazo is actually farther away. How can had joined her. City officials opened up a dance hall 24 Ashley Malayer this be? Earth is not perfectly round; our planet 28 Scott Dismukes and hired musicians to help the dancers. Tragically, bulges at the equator. Since Chimborazo lies 29 Lesa Cheney many danced until they died. The circumstances of the 1518 outbreak near the equator on this bulge, it is 3,967.1 are eerily similar to the 1374 outbreak. The pious miles from the center of Earth. Everest, which people of Strasbourg, too, were suffering the does not sit near the equator, is 3,965.8 miles severe stresses of disease, flood, and famine . from Earth’s center, a little over a mile shorter by distance. Which mountain is bigger? You decide. ASBURY TOWERS STAFF Executive Director Michelle McClure

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From the Desk of Sharon Sheridan: WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS

First Floor Hey, you guys – How many of you read much? Even tho I am an admitted “Book-Acholic”, I Theresa Jacobs rarely recommend a book. However, I have come across a Doozie of a writer! If you enjoy Betty Wallace laughing, get these books: “On the Bright Side”, and get “The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen”. Both of these are written by Hendrik Groen, an Eighty something year old man who lives in the Netherlands, in a nursing facility just like us! Groen is charming , openly frank and witty! His wit is refreshing, up-lifting, and just what everyone of all ages need! Our Putnam County Library has these books, or they can, of course, be purchased at any bookstore. It’s best to get them from the library first, to see if you like them. They are written in diary form and can be read a bit at a time. I never claimed to be a genius, but when it comes to judging humor, I will never give WELCOME NEW STAFF you a bum-steer.

Sincere Gaston-Dietary Trust me! Janet Hroch-Nursing Jennifer Tharp-Nursing Cathy Slavens-Nursing Megan Langdon-Nursing God Bless Us Everyone! Katie Spesard-Nursing Sharon Sheridan Carlie Bundy-Nursing June 2019 Amy Murphy-Nursing

Please make them feel welcome! Birthstone – Pearl

Pearls are finely polished beauties that come in various shapes and sizes. Traditionally, pearls are white or ivory, but they can also be found in pinks, purples, blacks, and golds. The pearl is very different from other birthstones, because it is not really a stone at all. Pearls are created by In the Good Ol’ Days of June mollusks, such as clams or oysters. When a grain of sand finds its way inside the mollusk’s shell, the mollusk seals off the irritant by coating it with nacre, or mother of pearl. After many coatings, In 1919 (100 years ago), the average annual it becomes rounded, and a pearl is born. income was $1,125. The average cost of a new house was $5,626. A loaf of bread was 10¢, and a gallon of milk was 62¢. You could purchase one dozen eggs for 38¢. Stamps were 3¢ each. A car cost $355, and gas was 25¢ per gallon. According

to the Consumer Price Index Calculator, $1 in

1919 is equivalent to $14.89 today. Flower – Rose The rose, the flower for the month of June, represents beauty and perfection. Its name comes from the Latin word rose, which means “red.” It’s one of the earliest flowers known to man. In What’s Lucky in June? fact, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia around 560 BC, used roses to decorate his home. In modern floral tradition, red symbolizes love. White symbolizes innocence, dark pink reflects Lucky Color: Teal gratitude, yellow is the rose for friendship, and peach represents appreciation, sincerity, and the “What is one to say about June, the time of Lucky Day: Friday timely closing of a deal. perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the Lucky Number: 3 promise of the earlier months, and with as yet Lucky Letter: J no sign to remind one that its fresh young Lucky Bird: Dove beauty will ever fade.” ~ Gertrude Jekyll, author WEEKLY EVENTS The Deep Blue Sea

Church Service every Sunday at 1:00 pm in the Lobby When you consider the massive size and global influences of the on our planet, you Movies every Monday at 1:00 pm in the Lobby realize that there is much to celebrate in June during Oceans Month. It is a commonly cited Chimes/Sing A Long every Tuesday at 1:30 pm statistic that 71% of Earth’s surface is . It is less known that anywhere from 50–80% of all Don’t forget to look at the sign-up bullentin board by the in the Main Dining Room life on Earth is found under the ocean’s surface. After all, the ocean constitutes 99% of Earth’s Main Dining Room for trips scheduled outside of the Art/Craft every Tuesday at 2:30 pm building for the Month of June! Be mindful that trips Cards every Wednesday at 1:30 pm in the Main Dining living space and, amazingly, humans have explored only 10% of these vast depths. Some say could be cancelled due to inclemental weather. If Room that we know more about the moon than these uncharted reaches. you have a suggestion or place you would like to go, Manicures/Music every Wednesday at 3:00 pm in the please contact Julie at Ext. 117. South Dining Room The majority of the ocean is the “,” a cold, dark, and pressurized area 1,000 meters Classic Movie Night every Thursday evening in Lobby at below the surface. Light cannot penetrate to these depths, yet this part of the ocean is home to an 6:00 pm Bingo every Saturday at 1:30 pm in Main Dining Room abundance of life. The fish and organisms that live here depend on the organic matter that sinks down from above, falling like a life-giving snow. Many deep-sea fish are bioluminescent, which June Food Committee will meet on June means that they can create light with their bodies. Deep-sea fish also conserve as much 10th at 10:30 a.m. in the Founder’s Lounge. energy as possible and do not move much, lying in wait for their food rather than hunting for it.

The deep sea is a harsh environment where only the most perfectly adapted organisms can June Resident Council will meet on June Special Events of the Month 11th at 1:30 p.m. in the Main Dining Room. survive. Humans have only ventured to these reaches in advanced submarines. Officers are: President: Joan Talley Yet it is not impossible to witness these amazing creatures up close. June is also Aquarium th Vice-President: Pat Aikman 6 Walmart Shopping Trip leaving at 1pm from the Lobby Month, and aquariums have finally developed technologies that mimic deep-sea habitats. 7th Joyride to Fruit/Vegetable Stand leaving Lobby at 1pm Secretary: Jeanne Shillings th Scientists have created the “abyss box,” a tank that mimics the punishing conditions of the Board Representative: John Baughman 10 Food Committee in Founders Lounge at 10:30 am 10th Juliet’s Trip to Christian Bookstore in Terre Haute at 10:30 am deep sea: absence of light, harsh cold, and crushing the likes of carrying the weight of th 11 Resident Council in Main at 1:30 pm a jumbo jet. The tiny, highly pressurized tank has six-inch-thick walls, holds only five gallons Everyone from the Village and Asbury 11th Silver Linings performing in Lobby at 2:30 pm of water, and weighs 1,300 pounds. In it we can now see deep-sea crabs and shrimp, angler fish, Towers are welcome to attend. 11th White Elephant Bingo in Main at 6:30 pm and other mysterious creatures of the deep 12th Mike performing in Lobby at 1:30 pm 12th June Birthday Party in Main at 2:30 pm 12th Dollar General Trip leaving Lobby at 3:00 pm 13th Lanny Ferguson in Lobby at 1pm Some time ago we did a monthly lunch outing to th For June, we will be having our Theme Dinner 13 Red, White, Blue Social in Main at 2pm various places, this group was called JULIET’S! It on June 19th at 5pm in the Main Dining Room. 14th Mystery Joyride leaving lobby at 1 pm was a group of ladies from Asbury Towers and The Theme will be a Cheeseburger in Paradise 17th Romeo’s eating lunch at Pizza Hut at 11:00 am th sometimes from the Senior Center going out to eat Theme. 18 Taste of Asbury in Main at 2:00 pm and enjoy the day. We are going start that again in 19th Out to Lunch to Cracker Barrel in Plainfield leaving at 10:30am th th On June 19 , we have a lunch outing to the month of June. We will be going to the Cracker 19 Cheeseburger in Paradise Theme Dinner Cracker Barrel in Plainfield. We will th 20th Walmart Shopping Trip leaving lobby at 1pm Barrel in Plainfield on June 10 at 10:30 am for the st leave the lobby at 10:30 a.m. Anyone 21 Nature Joyride leaving lobby at 1pm who would like to go please, sign up on first outing. If you have some other ideas, please let 25th June Bingo Night in Main at 6:30 pm th the sheet on the bulletin board. Julie know at Extension 117. 26 Dollar Tree Trip leaving lobby at 1pm th See Sandy or Julie with any questions Also, the Taste of Asbury will be on June 18th 27 Tom Wright in Lobby at 1pm th at 2:30 pm in the Main Dining Room with A 27 Strawberry Social in Main at 2 pm th Summer Salad Theme. 28 Resident Pick Joyride leaving lobby at 1pm We will also be starting our Men’s group called June Bingo Dates Romeo’s (Retired Older Men Eating Out), they will th Look for more activities on your calendar and on TV channel 2 for Join us in the Main Dining Room be visiting the Pizza Hut on June 17 at 11:00 a.m. additional activities throughout the month of June. on June 11th, at 6:30 pm for a White Elephant Bingo. Don’t forget to bring your wrapped gift Please sign up on the Bulletin Board! to exchange.

Also, June 25th, we will hold our monthly bingo in the Main Dining Room at 6:30 pm

Social Media Matters Extrasensory Perception Everything’s Coming Up Roses Heart of a Champion

Social media. It is a powerful June 24 will find us tasting, seeing, hearing, Roses have long been On June 9, 1973, Secretariat secured his place force that is redefining humanity’s smelling, and touching on Celebration of the grown for their beauty and in sports history by winning the Belmont Stakes communication and sense of Senses Day. The concept of the five senses fragrance. But roses have and completing the elusive Triple Crown. And interdependence. In this sense, was made popular by the Greek philosopher also been used as powerful Secretariat did not just win—the horse won every day is Social Media Day, Aristotle, who believed that these senses are symbols for ages. Perhaps it is by a record 31 lengths. Jockey Ron Turcotte but its holiday is celebrated on what give our brain information about the because of their dual nature: claims to have lost control of the horse and June 30. world around us. Yet, if we define a sense as the dangerous thorns and the beautiful flower. insists that Secretariat powered himself to the something that informs us of the world around This June, Rose Month, take the time to astounding victory. Some consider Secretariat Social media begins with the Internet. Thanks us, scientists insist that there are far more than contemplate the symbolism of the rose. Both the one of the greatest athletes of all time. The to our wirelessly connected world, people are just five senses. Scientists categorize balance, anciet Egyptians and Greeks considered the rose sports television network ESPN ranks the now able to access the Internet wherever they pain, proprioception (knowing where our hands a symbol of silence and secrecy. The Latin phrase horse 35th on its list of greatest athletes, ahead go, through their cell phones, computers, and and feet are even with our eyes closed), our sub rosa, or “under the rose,” denotes secrecy and of baseball great Mickey Mantle and basketball other electronic devices. About 20% of our time sense of hot and cold, our sense of hunger confidentality. Roses adorned the ceilings of dining superstar Julius “Dr. J” Erving. What made online is spent visiting social media sites such as or fullness after a meal, and our perception halls in ancient Rome. Anything said under the Secretariat the “Horse of the Century”? After Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, of the passing time to be distinct senses in influence of wine was considered to be kept he died, an autopsy revealed that Secretariat’s Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, and others. Some and of themselves. And then there are the confidiential. Similarly, roses were hung from heart was twice the size of the average of these sites allow us to share pictures and videos. more “magical” senses. Some people claim the ceilings of council chambers, a reminder of horse’s, weighing an estimated 22 pounds. Others allow us to share personal comments the ability to “feel” the emotions of others. secrecy for all those present. Later, Christianity Many speculate that it was this physical and opinions. Some are used for professional Others “see” future events. Still others “hear” adopted the symbol. Confessionals were adorned abnormality that propelled Secretariat to networking. Some are dedicated to shopping, the thoughts in other people’s heads. While with roses, symbolic promises that conversations greatness. It is fitting that Secretariat had cooking, or other hobbies. The point of social there is no scientific evidence to corroborate would remain secret. Roses have also been such a big heart. By all accounts he was not media is to connect people. Groups that used these senses, no one is exactly sure to what used as emblems by secret societies like the only a champion but also gentlemanly amongst to be out of contact due to distance or isolation limits the human senses can stretch. Rosicrucians and royal houses such as Tudor, other horses and playful with his handlers. If can now be connected via the Internet. People Lancaster, and York. Secretariat’s heart was big, then the hearts of can now find each other, share, and collaborate his fans, too, must have swelled with pride at faster than ever before in history, and the effects Say Sooie! Red roses are also symbols of love, beauty, and his sprint for the Triple Crown. this new connectedness has on human culture virtue. We must again look to ancient Greece, Sooo-ie! June 14 is Pig where the red rose was connected to Aphrodite, are substantial. Callers Day. While the the Greek goddess of love. When Aphrodite’s Old Maid to Order University of Arkansas has Once upon a time, members of obscure true love, Adonis, was injured by a wild boar, all but trademarked their It began as a prank on subcultures stuck to their small groups. she mixed his blood with her tears to create the “Woo Pig Sooie” cheer to June 4, 1948, when Marion Today, any member of one of these subcultures red rose, an endurng symbol of their love. Later, encourage their beloved Richards secretly distributed can become part of a massive community at the the rose became a symbol of the Virgin Mary in Razorbacks, do real pig greeting cards and bouquets click of a button. Artists separated by continents Christianity. It was believed that roses in the farmers call “sooie” to their pigs? True hog to all the unmarried women can collaborate. Unknown individuals can become Garden of Eden were thornless, but after the fall calling sounds as you’d expect: grunts and age 30 and over at her overnight Internet sensations. Inventors and of Adam and Eve they grew thorns. Thorns came squeals. Calls are varied and depend on your workplace. When her colleagues asked her what entrepreneurs no longer need storefronts to to represent Original Sin. Mary, born of the strategy. Male calls lure males who want to was going on, she told them it was Old Maid’s sell their unique products to the masses. Immaculate Conception and without Original fight for territory. Female calls are used to lure Day. That same night, married women and Sin, came to be known as the “rose without a mate. Piglet distress calls are meant to alert younger women threw Richards and her “old Experts warn that social media is a double-edged thorns.” While the rose symbolizes the paradise adult pigs. So why has “sooie” become the maid” friends a surprise party. Richards was sword. It is a powerful force for connection, but it of Eden, its thorns symbolize suffering and grief. default pig call of choice? Perhaps it comes declared the holiday’s founder, and Dora can also be damaging, especially to young people. from the word sow, which is the term for a Over the years, the color of a rose has come to McCracken was elected secretary and Social media platforms are rife with adolescent female pig. Or maybe it comes from the word have different meanings. Red roses are for love historian. It did not take long before Old Maid’s pitfalls: aggression, sex, drugs, and bullying. suidae, which is the Latin classification for the and passion; pink are for gratitude; yellow are Day was being celebrated in communities Perhaps Social Media Day on June 30 should scientific family of pigs. No doubt about it, hog for friendship; and white are for spirituality and across the country. June may be the month of be a day to encourage teens (and remind adults) calling competitions are often more about fun purity. Any way you color it, roses have long weddings, white lace, and bouquets, but Old to wield the power of social media wisely. than accuracy, so “sooie” it is! been powerful messengers. Maid’s Day celebrates the single woman with h lid f h