February 2019

Arbor House & Memory Care Postage 9240 E. Reno Information Midwest City OK 73130

Arbor House Branch

Arbor House Assisted Living & Memory Care 9240 E. Reno Ave. Midwest City, OK 73130 405-455-3900 ph. 405-610-6947 fax www.arborhouseliving.com

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, it was decreed that February 26 would forevermore be Day. Whether you fancy woodland sprites, fire-breathing dragons, princesses locked in high towers, or talking animals, fairy tales and the lessons they impart are integral Celebrating February Birthdays: parts of every culture.

Wanda McKibben 2/1 Scientists have traced the first fairy tales back to an Nova Collier 2/4 era before the written word. An old folktale entitled “The Smith and the Devil,” which is about a blacksmith Glenda Davis 2/6 selling his soul to the devil in order to gain magical Barbara Wilson 2/10 abilities, dates back to the Bronze Age—6,000 years Alana McBride 2/18 ago. Researchers from the New University of Lisbon in Billie Harris 2/19 Portugal believe that this ancient tale was shared orally Ann Shannon 2/28 in a language that does not exist today. It is no surprise

that fairy tales are so old. The purpose of these stories,

Hard to Swallow February Birthdays Staff: after all, is to teach children clear distinctions between

Andrea Pickett 2/7 good and evil and right and wrong. Fairy tales are, in In astrology, those born between February 1–19 The last Saturday in February is Jaela Moore 2/14 essence, morality tales filled with magic and wonder as International Sword Swallowers are Water Bearers of Aquarius. Water Bearers are Kayla Wade 2/16 a means to attract the attention of a young audience. Day, a holiday not for the faint of deep-thinking intellectuals, unafraid of exploring Melinda Newingham 2/19 Yet, adults are no less in need of morality tales. heart or throat. Sword swallowing outlandish ideas. Their strong sense of community is not an illusion or trick, but an makes them good friends and valuable team Mackenzy Moore 2/28 incredibly dangerous feat that members. Those born from February 19–28 are The brothers Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm, famous for takes years of practice. If done the slippery Fish of Pisces. Selfless Pisces are Library Lovers Month their collection of fairy tales, also believed that many incorrectly, it can end with hospitalization or even very wise and empathetic, making them always Groundhog Day of the stories they found had existed for centuries death. Professionals, however, only suffer the willing to help others. These deep emotions also February 2 before they wrote them down. They listened to old- occasional sore, or “sword,” throat. The key to make Pisces talented artists and good friends. timers tell the beloved tales “,” sword swallowing is to not swallow at all! One Celebration of Love Week “,” “,” and “” must completely relax the throat and esophagus Clark Gable (actor) – February 1, 1901 February 10–16 and then transcribed their versions of the tales into and suppress the gag reflex, not an easy feat Red Buttons (comedian) – February 5, 1919 print. The were the first scientists of Babe Ruth (ballplayer) – February 6, 1895 considering our throats have built-in nerves Valentine’s Day folklore. They even took positions as librarians and Jules Verne (author) – February 8, 1828 designed to eject foreign objects in our February 14 historians at the University of Göttingen in Germany. esophagus. Sword swallowers do not start Jimmy Durante (actor) – February 10, 1893 with swords but practice with spoons, knitting Galileo Galilei (astronomer) – February 15, 1564 It would be wise on Fairy Tale Day to choose a story Love Your Pet Day needles, and coat hangers. Out of the world’s Cybill Shepherd (actress) – February 18, 1950 collected by , for this brother’s birthday 7.5 billion people, only about 100 dare to Patty Hearst (kidnapee) – February 20, 1954 February 20 falls on February 24. If you’ve grown tired of the same swallow swords. What originated as a divine Olave Baden-Powell (guide) – February 22, 1889 old tales, then perhaps you can read a new tale, such ritual 4,000 years ago is today a shocking Steve Jobs (innovator) – February 24, 1955 as “The King of the Golden Mountain,” “Hans My and sensational demonstration of willpower. Fats Domino (musician) – February 26, 1928 Hedgehog,” or “Cat and Mouse in Partnership.”

February 2019

The Year of the Pig A Sneeze for the Ages The Original Castaway Drawing the Short Straw

Xin nián kuài lè! That means Among his many scientific achievements, On February 1, 1709, Alexander Selkirk was February 22 is Skip the Straw Day. Banning “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Thomas Edison is also known to have opened rescued from an island after being stranded straws has certainly been a hot topic. More February 5 ushers in the Year the very first film recording studio on February 1, there for four years. Upon his return to England, and more companies and communities are of the Pig, a very auspicious 1893, in West Orange, New Jersey. His Black journalists portrayed his last four years in outright banning these seemingly harmless year in Chinese culture. Why Maria studio (named after the cramped, dark extraordinary detail, making Selkirk a celebrity modern conveniences. This is because does the pig represent wealth police paddy wagons known colloquially as and inspiring the novelist Daniel Defoe to write Americans, on average, use one million plastic and good fortune? Perhaps “black marias”) was the testing ground and his masterpiece Robinson Crusoe. straws each day, and many of those plastic bits the chubbiness of the pig indicates prosperity. Or laboratory for his kinetograph, a forerunner to are ending up in landfills and our oceans. For maybe it is because wild boars are known to be the movie camera. His first famous film recording Selkirk was a hot-tempered navigator those who still want straws or need them for is known as Fred Ott’s Sneeze; he filmed a mere fearless and will run headlong into any situation, of a privateering ship called the medical reasons, some companies now provide four silent seconds of Fred Ott rearing his head usually winning out in the end. With pigs held in Cinque Ports—a legalized pirate customers with biodegradable or compostable backward in a hearty kerchoo. Once his marvelous such high esteem, it may be surprising to learn ship plundering for the British Crown. straws, including paper straws. People used to film was released to the public, Edison was When conditions on board got sip drinks through long hollow reeds of ryegrass. that the pig is the very last animal of the Chinese contacted by a number of performers begging bad, Selkirk tried to raise a mutiny That all changed in 1888 when inventor Marvin zodiac and the legend concerning the pig is him to capture their work for posterity. The against the ship’s young captain by Stone patented a spiral winding process for not very flattering. kinetograph’s popularity was short-lived, though, begging to be left alone on an island with the crew. paper and created the first paper straw. His lasting only about 10 years. In that brief span, Unfortunately for Selkirk, none of the other crew straws were far superior to ryegrass straws, kinetograph theaters known as kinetoscopes The legend states that when the Jade Emperor members wanted to stay behind with him, so he for they did not impart a grassy taste to the opened across the country in New York, declared that he was selecting animals for the was abandoned on Más a Tierra island off the beverage. So it seems that we have come full zodiac, all the animals rushed to his palace to be Chicago, and San Francisco, but ironically coast of Chile. Selkirk expected another friendly not in Hollywood. circle, back to Stone’s original invention. But included. But the pig journeyed slowly, and when ship to arrive, perhaps within days, but again he will banning plastic straws actually save the miscalculated, and another ship did not arrive for he arrived, the gates were shut. However, the other environment? Not entirely. Plastic straws are four years and four months. Amazingly, Selkirk animals pleaded with the Jade Emperor to let him Underwater Weddings just a tiny percentage of plastic pollution. But survived. He ate fish, crayfish, and the many in. He conceded, and the pig was allowed to enter the anti-straw movement might raise awareness With Valentine’s Day goats that inhabited the island. He grew so fleet but was made the last sign of the zodiac. Perhaps about the harms of plastic to our planet. the pig’s connection to good fortune stems from falling in the middle of of foot that he could catch them with his bare February, it is no wonder hands. Food and shelter came relatively easy. this tale: Despite the pig’s hardships, he still this month is known as Keeping his sanity was his most difficult task. triumphed and was added to the zodiac. Many Happy Returns Wedding Month. The city When a ship arrived on the horizon to save him, it of Trang in Thailand has was navigated by none other than William Dampier, February is Return Shopping The Chinese New Year’s celebration lasts not for capitalized on lovers yearning to tie the knot on a buccaneer under whom Selkirk had sailed on the Carts to the Supermarket Month. one day, but for two whole weeks. There are many Valentine’s Day by offering a unique setting for Cinque Ports. Selkirk attempted to tell his story Shopping carts are abandoned traditions and superstitions to observe. For example, a wedding—under water! Every year from to Dampier, but he could barely remember the in the strangest of places: on New Year’s Day, it is commonplace to set off February 13 to 15, couples flock to this tropical English language. Selkirk found it difficult to alongside roads, in ditches, firecrackers, yet it is forbidden to sweep because seaside destination to take part in an underwater reintegrate into society, often thinking that he under bridges. Today is the day you may sweep away good luck. Two days later is group wedding ceremony. On the 13th, couples was happiest when he had nothing on the island. to put those shopping carts back the Day of the Rat, the day when rats were created. are greeted at the airport by Thai dancers in where they belong. It is estimated that two million On this day, people leave out crumbs of grain or traditional dress and then paraded through Daniel Defoe was intrigued with Selkirk’s story and shopping carts are taken from supermarkets Robinson each year, and with one shopping cart valued at crackers to share with rats. Celebrations continue the streets of Trang to the cheers of spectators. so wrote a romanticized version of it in On Valentine’s Day, couples are boated to the Crusoe. Perhaps, however, this story should not $100, that’s $200 million rolling away. If pushing to February 19, which culminates in the five-day- island of Koh Kradan, where they take part in be celebrated, for it has often been criticized a shopping cart back to a supermarket all the long Lantern Festival. The displaying of lanterns a traditional Thai wedding ceremony and are as a tale of one colonialist’s suppression and way from a highway is too much to ask, you is a major event, and one of the most popular blessed with the pouring of water over their heads enslavement of an indigenous culture. Crusoe can start by returning shopping carts from pastimes of the Lantern Festival is guessing at from a conch shell. Then—for qualified divers may have been a hero in 18th-century England, the parking lot. Unattended carts can do a lantern riddles. Riddles are written on lanterns, and only—comes the big event. Tuxedoed grooms but today his accomplishments seem rather lot of damage to cars. Furthermore, studies the answers to these riddles often involve blessings and brides dressed in white don their scuba kits brutish. Perhaps instead, we should celebrate show that abandoned shopping carts lead for the family and good fortune, reinforcing the major for the underwater ceremony in the protected, February 1 as Alexander Selkirk Day and forget to people throwing other trash into parking themes of the Chinese New Year. pristine waters of Thailand’s Andaman Coast. Robinson Crusoe. lots. Returning carts fosters good citizenship!