The full moon, a breathtaking celestial show, occurs roughly every 29.5 days. During this phase, the Earth, Sun, and Moon form a nearly straight line, bathing the moon’s surface in sunlight, creating the full moon we see.

The “lunar effect” theory suggests that the full moon may influence human emotions, leading to increased aggression, anxiety, or erratic behavior. Many psychologists suggest the belief in the “full moon effect” may be a cognitive bias, where people notice unusual behavior more during a full moon because they are primed to expect it.

Some studies have investigated a possible connection between the full moon and mental health crises, especially among those with mood disorders. Historically, the term, “lunacy” (from “luna” the Latin name for the moon) was based on the belief that the full moon could trigger episodes in people with mental illnesses. The full moon can trigger strong emotions and uncomfortable sensations. The full moon is also known to cause temporary sleep disruptions.

As I drove down Dover Street at seven A.M. on October 17, the full moon was a glowing, fully illuminated, orb hanging in the sky ahead of me. I was so excited about the beauty and placement of this moon that I took a photo while driving. The presence of the moon felt like a good morning gift to me, a little “wake-up” call to interrupt the monotony of my early morning drive. Little did I know that this celestial pearl was the harbinger of a huge shift in my life. The usual aches and pains as well as rollercoaster emotions were expected but the sledgehammer of challenges was an unwelcome surprise.

I’m a huge believer in the superstition that bad things come in threes. Despite the fact that the belief in bad luck coming in threes isn’t directly related to the full moon, three challenges have befallen my family since the full moon.

While the origins of “bad luck in three’s” are unknown, one superstition emerged during the Crimean war, where soldiers were warned against lighting three cigarettes from the same match to avoid being spotted by the enemy. Psychologists believe that our innate desire for certainty and pattern recognition are an explanation. This assigned pattern has a name: apophenia. Apophenia is an error of perception: the tendency to interpret random patterns as meaningful.

I always breathe a sigh of relief when the third bad thing rears its ugly head. Whew! We’re safe for awhile, enough time to maneuver the negative forces in our life at the moment.

I Am Not Okay by Jelly Roll came on Pandora the next morning as I was making my lunch for work. The song made me pause, questioning, “am I okay?” I’m usually okay so I ignored the question/warning. I’m still okay two weeks later but the universe’s message was loud and clear, stop and pay attention. I read an email later that day from psychic, Rebecca Rosen suggesting that I needed to “reconnect with source.” Rebecca’s email said that while our souls know “truth” it can be common to become disconnected from our higher self at various points in our lives. Later that day, I was drawn to my “toolbox” of stress reduction, essential oils, meditation, and crystals.

Whether your run of bad luck is over is up to you. Burning sage, sweeping, or lighting candles are always a good idea, but the best bet is to change perspective. Realize that life is what you make it, and try to stop negative thoughts. Realizing that overcoming adversity results in growth makes having a positive attitude easier to maintain.

“This too shall pass” is a saying used in my family for times such as these. It’s based on a Persian adage made famous by Edward Fitzgerald’s “Solomon’s Seal”. In the story, King Solomon aims to create a sentence that will always be true – whether times are good or bad. In it, he responds, “this, too, will pass away”.

Politeness is more than a set of manners, although it is often perceived as a simple, “please” and “thank you” and holding the door open. I have learned that the power of being polite goes deeper, it can ease tense situations and even bring out the best in those around us.

Politeness involves showing respect and empathy towards others. Being polite can include a simple smile, giving others the space to speak, and asking someone how they are really doing. Politeness makes daily interactions much more enjoyable.

A study by NIH in 2011 showed that politeness can be good for our mental health. When empathy and kindness are demonstrated, positive responses are received. Treating others well builds self respect and self confidence. Politeness brings people together. In workplaces, polite and respectful communication fosters teamwork and boosts morale. In neighborhoods, politeness builds trust and creates a safer, more connected community. When you’re polite you show others the value of respect.

Diane Gottsman, the author of “Modern Etiquette for a Better Life” says that there are a few old fashioned manners that kids today are not being taught. Whenever my kindergarten students speak to me, I make sure that my eyes are level with theirs, making eye contact is important. Standing up when being introduced to someone new and shaking hands is another outdated formality that I learned as a child, taught my own children, and now teach my grandchildren and students.

Manners and polite behavior were of utmost importance in my family. From an early age, I learned the intricacies of navigating formal table settings that included finger bowls. No elbows on the table, chew with your mouth shut, don’t talk with your mouth full, cut small bites of food one at a time, and napkin always in your lap. Proper knife and fork skills were modeled by my parents, hold the index finger on the top of the knife blade with remaining four fingers wrapped around the handle, no fists involved. When not in use, with the blade facing in, the knife was placed at twelve and three o’clock on the plate.

Handshakes were also important in my family. I was taught to always keep my drink in my left hand with my right hand free at a cocktail party, in order to offer a dry hand in a firm, not crushing or limp handshake.

Politeness is more than a social formality, it’s about finding balance, showing respect to others while respecting ourselves in words and actions. Politeness is a powerful tool that encourages respect, trust, and empathy in our everyday lives. Being polite may seem small but it has a big impact. In today’s fast paced world, I believe that politeness offers a way to connect, communicate, and build better relationships. Politeness and respect are essential qualities that foster understanding and promote cooperation. They are vital for creating a harmonious society where individuals feel respected.

“True power and true politeness are above vanity” – VoltairePoliteness

Routine is important for brain development, according to Psychology Today. Developing a new habit requires motivation, repetition, and consistency. One must practice the habit over and over until it becomes automatic. That’s how our brains build new synaptic connections, the place in our brain where neurons transmit and process information.

My kindergarten students have been in class for thirty-seven days. We have a solid daily routine/habit that they know and count on. We begin each day with a writing exercise then move to our morning message with the entire school. Circle time includes some seasonal finger plays, the weather, calendar work, and a couple of mindfulness exercises. The transition to our language arts block is always after I have read a book aloud (one of my favorite things to do). Snack then Math then free play time. After lunch my students have recess, then the entire school comes together for a brief news break with Lester Holt (in my opinion, the only news that all of us should watch). The afternoon consists of Science and Social Studies, physical education, art, and music classes. Just before dismissal everyday, I ask each child what their favorite part of the day was.

Next week marks the end of the first quarter of school and with that the time for report cards and parent conferences. I am impressed with the high level of learning that has occurred in these thirty-seven days. My students have memorized lengthy songs and the actions that accompany those songs. They remind me if I’ve skipped an activity such as picking an emotion peg doll that coincides with their current feelings. These little five year olds know their vowels, punctuation marks, all the parts of a book, and they are beginning to read by “sounding out” the letters in words. These precious little ones are learning geometry, addition, and subtraction through daily practice using songs, games, and manipulative.

We celebrate together when a classmate has achieved a new milestone, the pride upon achieving that success is so joyful. I tell my students to, “kiss your brain” in celebration of a new synaptic connection. We talk a lot about neurons in kindergarten, my students know that the 100 billion neurons in our brains make connections with other neurons creating pathways that share information making us smarter. They know mistakes are made because their brains are still growing.

My brain is tired at the end of each school day so I have been “habit stacking” to improve my mental health. I recently read an article in Forbes that explains that listening to ten minutes of music can clear your mind so I intend to add music to my daily after school walk with my dog.

Habit Stacking: 97 Small Changes That Take Five Minutes Or Less is a book by S.J. Scott. This book suggests that adding small actions to our day can create lifelong positive benefits. The concept of “habit stacking” is based on the idea that our brains are more likely to adopt new behaviors when they’re associated with an action we’re already used to doing. The established habit serves as a reminder to for the new one, making it easier to perform consistently.

---

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Little Golden Books are a beloved staple in children’s literature. These books were created during World War ll when families were looking for affordable entertainment. Priced at just 25 cents, these books were accessible to a broad audience.

George’s Duplaix is credited with inventing the Little Golden Book concept. Duplaix came up with the idea while working in the children’s book division of Western Publishing. Duplaix’s plan was to create a line of inexpensive, durable, and colorful books for children. At the time, children’s books were expensive and typically only owned by wealthy families.

The first twelve titles were released in October, 1942, their appeal was immediate. Children were drawn to the large full color illustrations on each page. Parents appreciated the affordability and the educational content. Within five months, the first print run of 1.5 million books had sold out. Little Golden Books were sold where families shopped together, such as grocery and drug stores.

In a world where screens dominate, there is something magical for children in the experience of holding a Little Golden Book. For generations, this magic has created lasting memories for all who read them. While the original books might seem dated with their stories about life in the mid 1900’s, the themes they explore remain universal. Stories about friendship, curiosity, perseverance, and kindness are timeless, making these books as relevant today as they were when they were first published.

The success of the Little Golden Books is attributed to the talent of the writers and illustrators. Richard Scarry, Margaret Wise Brown, and Garth Williams all contributed to this series of books. Richard Scarry was very popular because of his illustrations of animals navigating everyday life while dressed in human clothing. Little Golden Books focused on simple but engaging stories that resonated with children of all backgrounds. Many stories featured curious puppies, mischievous kittens, and adventurous children with everyday experiences that children could connect with.

My family loved reading, there were bookshelves filled with children’s books, including many of my parent’s favorite childhood books. Raggedy Ann and Andy stories, Winnie the Pooh, The Velveteen Rabbit, Millions of Cats, the entire series of OZ books, Robinson Crusoe, Eight Cousins, Pollyanna, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales were just a few of the books that my parents treasured as children. Books were always a welcome gift for birthdays and Christmas. We’d stock up on paperbacks at our local bookstore for summer afternoon reading.

With two older siblings, our Little Golden Book library was very full, but my Mom was always happy to buy the latest Little Golden Book sitting in the rack near the check out aisle at the Safeway.

One book still sticks in my mind as a personal favorite, I received a Quick Draw McGraw Little Golden Book after having my tonsils removed at age five. I loved every inch of that book. The continued success of Little Golden Books is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. These little books with their golden spine and timeless tales, have fostered a love of reading in countless children.

Author Diane Muldrow was so inspired that she wrote a book titled, Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book. This humorous book styled exactly like a Little Golden Book with its foil spine, offers advice for getting the most out of life. The pages are filled with a whimsical combination of illustrations and excerpts from iconic stories such as The Poky Little Puppy.

A copy of The Poky Little Puppy bought today is essentially the same as the one printed in 1942. There are twelve hundred Little Golden Book titles currently being published each year by Random House. First editions of the original twelve books printed in 1942 are being sold at auction for fifty to two hundred dollars each, depending on the condition.

The latest Little Golden Book is available for pre-order and will be released on October 15, 2024. The upcoming movie, Wicked, has inspired, I am Elphaba. This Little Golden Book is about a young witch with green skin who is an outcast. I am Elphaba promises to delight children between the ages of two to five years old.

Little Golden Books have been a reflection of our times. With subjects ranging from history to pop culture to classic fairy tales, children and their parents are sure to find a book to match their interest.

“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” — Neil Gaiman

Some psychologists believe that clowns can be scary in part because we can’t read genuine emotion on a clown’s face. Clowns are also unpredictable and manic, which can generate apprehension, particularly in children.

Fear of clowns, officially known as coulrophobia, is a relatively new phenomenon created by clowns like Stephen King’s, Pennywise who preys on children and lives in the sewers. This evil clown, also known as the creepy or scary clown is a subversion of the traditional playful character and is depicted in a more disturbing nature with the use of horror elements and dark humor.

Clowns became popular as charity workers, entertaining sick children in hospitals. These therapy clowns used pantomime to ease a child’s anxiety and were shown to have generally positive effects on the children’s wellbeing.

The most recognizable clowns are those that perform in the circus, characterized by a red nose, colorful wigs, and oversized shoes. In the early twentieth century, North American circuses developed characters such as the tramp or the hobo.

Kids television in the 1950’s and 1960’s included Bozo the Clown with his sidekick, Cookie. The hour long, live show featured comedy sketches, circus acts, cartoons, games and prizes with a live audience of over two hundred excited children. These children sometimes waited as much as a year for their chance to be in the show’s audience. Bozo’s face was painted white with high eyebrows and an exaggerated smear of red for a mouth. Bozo’s makeup and uniform might now seem grotesque and sinister to some people.

Many birthday parties in the twentieth century included a clown. There isn’t any evidence that children in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s were afraid of clowns. The clown’s role is to entertain a group with juggling, magic tricks, balloon twisting, stilt walking, and unicycling. My youngest son requested a clown as entertainment at his sixth birthday party. The clown was a huge hit with the party guests.

My parents, friend, Dolly was a clown whose costume was similar to raggedy Ann with her red mop wig, white pinafore, and striped socks. Dolly drove a Model T car and was a prominent figure at the Rodeo parades. Dolly was a city council member who owned a sheep ranch with her brother, she was also a contributing writer for The Casper Star Tribune.

Groucho Marx called Red Skelton “the most unacclaimed clown in show business, he’s the last of the great clowns.” Red Skelton got his start as a minstrel and a circus clown, then graduated to vaudeville. He was signed to a movie contract in 1940, advancing his comedy career. Skelton believed that he was put on this earth to make people laugh.

The Red Skelton Show, which aired from 1951-1971, was a favorite of my family. Once a week, we’d watch Red become some of our favorite characters, “Freddie the Freeloader” and “Clem Kaddidlehopper”. “Freddie” was a sensitive hobo who lived at the city dump. “Freddie’s” make up was minimal, black greasepaint at the jawline and a touch of white on his lips and eyelids. “Freddie” was a kind, generous clown.

The show began with Red’s monologue, followed by a guest star performance, usually a singer. The Beach Boys made their television debut in 1963. The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, and Dionne Warwick were a few performers on the show. John Wayne, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, and Carol Channing were notable guests that took part in the show’s comedy sketches. In later years, the show generally finished with “The Silent Spot” with Red pantomiming one of his characters. The show closed with Red Skelton looking directly into the camera and saying, “Good night and may God bless.”

One evening after dinner, many years ago, my family and I were walking around the shops at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. We came upon a gallery showing of Red Skelton’s paintings. My children were young and loved clowns so they were delighted to look at the paintings. We were gathered around a colorful painting of a clown and up walked Red Skelton himself. He greeted us as if we were guests at his party. After speaking to my older children, Red Skeleton took my two month old baby out of my arms and began rocking and singing to her. She gave him a huge gummy smile and a giggle. We had all met and fallen in love with a real life clown.

 

---

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Studies have shown an overall increase in the gray matter in the brains of people who regularly engage in artistic hobbies or careers. This means that drawing regularly will help keep your mind healthy and growing gray matter.

Sketching is good for all ages and it has nothing to do with the end result. It’s all about the process, a process that improves our general wellbeing. Young children typically draw from their imaginations, it’s how they express their understanding of the world. As we reach adolescence we develop a preference for realistic drawing and find that our ability doesn’t match our expectations.

Art is a great tool for people to explore and express their emotions. Drawing can help communicate your inner thoughts to others which can be healthy in growing your emotional intelligence. Drawing requires you to be more present in the moment, you tune into your feelings, thoughts, and your environment. Drawing or sketching has been proven to increase positive emotions and decrease negative feelings. Studies show that people who regularly engage in drawing are more likely to be more relaxed and optimistic.

Engaging in artistic activities can help improve your memory. Alzheimer’s research suggests that drawing helps our brain strengthen its ability to remember things. Drawing forces us to use our “mental storage” skills to recall a range of techniques and artistic knowledge.

My siblings and I were concerned about moving our mother to assisted living, but the facility’s arts program was a deciding factor in our choice. Mom had been an artist her entire life, she was a concert pianist, an accomplished artist, and loved sewing. As Mom approached her eighties, she was still very active, playing the piano and playing Bridge with her friends. Slowly, and quietly, as her dementia progressed, Mom began to discontinue her social and artistic activities, it’s almost as if she became a hermit. In her first years of assisted living, Mom was engaged again with social and artistic activities. She attended concerts and visited museums. She began art classes, her creative spark returned and as a result I have the last collection of her watercolor drawings.

As a teacher, it is important to me to keep my student’s imaginations alive and active. I witness their play and notice that some of it is directed by which movie or tv show they are watching. Sonic and Transformers are the current obsession with the boys. As a class, we paint, color, draw, or sculpt (playdoh) on a daily basis. Luckily, most of my kindergartners enjoy the creative process. It is wonderful to be a part of their lives before they begin doubting their creative ability. Our class talks alot about growth mindset and especially growing our neurons, they love the work but also know that it is healthy for their brains.

The Big Draw is the world’s largest drawing festival. It was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000 as an event and charity to raise the profile of drawing as a tool for well being. Every October over 500,000 people participate in The Big Draw Festival all over the world. Drawing in Motion is the theme for 2024. The Big Draw Has celebrations and activities planned at the Mispillion Art League in Milford, Delaware.

Calmtober is another great way to begin a drawing journey. If you follow @kriksisart on Instagram, you will find her beautiful list. There are prompts for every second day in October which include a teapot, rain, and a moth. I just bought a new watercolor paint palette and intend to follow along. An enjoyable way to celebrate the fall season.

 

---

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Autumn begins on the equinox which falls on Sunday, September 22 this year. The word equinox comes from the Latin equi (meaning equal) and nox (meaning night), marking the time when day and night are of equal length. We notice that the nights become longer than the days at the autumn equinox, until this is reversed at the spring equinox.

We typically think of the word, “fall” as the North American version of the word ‘autumn’, but it was in widespread usage in England. Originally the phrase ‘fall of the leaf’ was used for the season until the 17th century in England. The word autumn comes from the French automne and became popular in English in the 18th century.

The fall season is symbolic of change. In ancient civilizations, life changed with the seasons. In winter, farmers would rest, in spring they would prepare the land and plant seeds. In summer, farmers would protect their crops. In the fall, they would harvest the land. This cycle would repeat year after year. Fall represents a change of direction. Less planting, more harvest. Less daylight, more darkness. Our way of being must change to adapt to our biological needs.

Unlike the outward growth and flourishing we witness in spring, autumn is often associated with a more introspective and contemplative journey. Fall has become the time of year that symbolizes the process of turning inward and engaging in activities that nourish the soul. Like the trees that gracefully shed their leaves, autumn signifies a season of letting go. Fall beckons us to take stock of our lives and release what no longer serves us in our relationships and habits. As the world outside begins to slow down and become quiet, we turn inward and create spaces of refuge and renewal.

Fall is the season that invites us to reconnect with the earth to approach the coming days with a renewed sense of balance and purpose. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, autumn is the season where warmth and shelter become important.

This autumn the third floor of my house will be experiencing a renewal. My granddaughters have expressed an interest in decorating the bedrooms on that floor for sleepovers. They are gathering decorative items from all over the house to personalize their rooms. Our third floor is basically a storage dump for my four children’s childhood belongings and other stuff that we can’t bring ourselves to send to the dump. We all spent a couple of hours there this weekend going through trunks and boxes. It was like a treasure hunt for the children, they found it very entertaining. We introduced them to our method of getting things from the third floor to the first floor, simply drop it over the banister. They loved it. I’m glad that my husband and I have kept this six bedroom house, it has always been my dream to have my grandchildren love it as much as we do.

Walking down the grocery aisles the other day was an explosion of pumpkin flavored products, everything from cereal to coffee to cookies, and muffins.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte’ was invented by Starbucks at the headquarters in Seattle in early spring of 2003. Members of the team were searching for a new flavored coffee for the fall. A forkful of pumpkin pie was followed by a sip of hot espresso, the goal was to find which flavors of the pie best complemented the coffee. The team refined the recipe, handcrafted with espresso, pumpkin pie sauce, steamed milk and a dash of pumpkin pie topping on the whipped cream. In the fall of 2003, the pumpkin spice latte’ was tested in Washington D.C. and Vancouver, Canada. It was an instant winner. Dunkin Donuts introduced its pumpkin flavor swirl for coffee in 2007.

With pumpkins linked to everything fall, there is a psychological theory called “reactance” that affects us. Reactance Theory is the strong inclination to act on limited time offers like seasonal pumpkin spice flavors. Waiting until fall for the pumpkin spice latte season is like waiting for an award. Industries have profited from this growing psychological enticement and have made pumpkin spice flavors a social and nostalgic situation for us. Unfortunately, due to its seasonal shelf life, none of the pumpkin spice flavoring is freshly made and companies have to rely on factory made artificial flavors.

With the demand for pumpkins growing, the smell of pumpkin spice can trigger you to imagine fall leaves, warm blankets, and positive memories fluttering through your mind. Pumpkin flavoring is associated with popular fall activities like football games and trick or treating. We’re savoring the essence of autumn itself.

According to WebMd, eating pumpkins in the fall is beneficial to our health. As we head indoors on the increasingly cooler days, we tend to attract some pesky germs. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin C, A, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, and beta-carotene. Consuming pumpkin may help manage immune related diseases, reduce how often you fall sick, and help you recover faster from infections.

Pumpkin seeds are a natural source of tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep. The nutrients in pumpkin seeds can also positively affect stress, anxiety, sleep duration, and quality.

After Thanksgiving every year I give some of our pumpkins to our chickens to enjoy, the others are thrown in the garden. The seeds from the decomposing pumpkins from last year produced several very healthy vines this summer with beautiful heirloom varieties. On the morning I had chosen to harvest my pumpkins, I found vines strewn around violently with my pumpkins in pieces. It was obvious that the neighborhood raccoon family had been partying with my crop. My chickens eagerly accepted the leftovers.

Regardless of whether you love it or you hate it, there is no ignoring pumpkin spice season when it comes around. With the cooler weather and the start of the NFL season, I plan to add a little pumpkin spice to my coffee in the mornings, homemade of course.

---

Contributor Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt, are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End, where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Studies by Psychology Today have shown that writing by hand instead of typing deepens content processing and supports emotional health. The exclusive use of computers and the lack of handwriting practice do our brains a disservice by decreasing the areas which are part of the neural networks that control motor, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral functions. While slower than digital, writing by hand has been shown to help fight cognitive decline. Regularly practicing handwriting may improve brain structure and function.

There’s lots of empirical evidence that handwriting has psychological benefits, writing or journaling helps people process life’s emotional ups and downs. Amazon lists thousands of journaling notebooks for just such activities.

Research remains early, but findings so far argue that we shouldn’t abandon old-school pen and paper as obsolete technologies. Writing remains foundational for mental development across our lifespans, from formative early years through preserving cognitive fitness in late adulthood.

Penmanship began in first grade when I was a child. We were given chunky pencils and a green paperback book called “Miss Kettle’s Penmanship” with pages of letters to trace. For years, I had a callous on my finger from pressing so hard as I copied the letters in those books. There was a lot of pressure from the teacher to form the letters perfectly. We studied cursive in third grade and were expected to write all work in cursive after that. In ninth grade, typing class was a requirement, and typed reports were then the norm. Typing class in college involved a “mag-card” computer, which was huge but quick.

In junior high, I experimented with a combination of cursive and printing, getting creative with certain letters. I continued to do well on my handwritten papers and school work, so I adopted the cursive/printing technique as my own. I chose a fountain pen as a tool to perfect my new script. My granddaughter, Freyja, aged five, explains that she dots all of her i’s and j’s with a heart because she loves to write and is an artist.

My dad was an attorney whose penmanship was perfectly gorgeous. On his desk, he had stacks of legal pads with the notes that he wrote on a daily basis. I asked him one day why he made his letters so big in his name and he told me that how you sign your name says a lot about you, your persona. He said that if your signature is tiny, what does that say about you?

This year, as a kindergarten teacher, I’m teaching lowercase and high frequency letters first. Studies have shown that a higher percentage of children succeed using this method. After Common Core educational standards dropped cursive in 2010, some classrooms have returned to the methods used in the sixties and seventies of tracing the letters in a book. Handwriting practice has an incredible influence on cognitive development, stimulating different brain parts associated with language processing, memory retention, and creative expression. Handwriting is essential in developing fine motor skills necessary for performing delicate and precise movements of the hands and fingers. Handwriting activities can increase focus and concentration and is a fun way to express oneself.

I have boxes full of letters from beloved family members, these letters are a part of my history, a look into my past. I would grab this box of letters if my house was on fire because they are priceless to me. My favorites are the letters from my Mom and Dad. The summer when I was nine, my sister and I spent a month traveling with our grandmother. I received separate letters from my parents telling of a colossal rainstorm that flooded my hometown. Each account was totally different and reflected the letter writer’s personality. Dad’s letter was written as an adventure, telling of his rowing a boat to get to his office. Mom wrote about her garden and drew pictures of her droopy flowers in the flood water.

In this box of letters are the daily love notes written by my husband of thirty years. His cheerful little memos wish me a great day or reflect on wonderful days past. His signature always includes a drawing of himself and our little French Bulldog. These notes are the best part of my morning, better than the texts we send throughout the day.

By adding handwriting to our list of activities to promote healthy aging, we enhance our ability to communicate and enrich our lives in many ways.

---

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Did you know that “knocking on wood” actually comes from the belief that every tree is inhabited by a spirit known as Hamadryad or Dryad. The action of knocking was practiced by ancient priests in order to ward off evil or fulfill a wish. So the next time you knock on wood, remember you are actually summoning the spirits of a tree.

Some people believe that every tree has a spirit that lives in its roots, trunk, and bark. They may also believe that these spirits are the essence of the tree and are magical beings and do no harm. Trees are powerful symbols in many faiths and mythologies, and have been used to express spirituality and religious beliefs in various ways.

The tree is one of humankind’s most powerful symbols. It is the embodiment of life in all its realms: the point between heaven, earth, and water. In most mythology and ancient religious imagery, the tree was believed to have an abundance of divine creative energy.

Trees have an extraordinary capacity to absorb negative energy. When we hug a tree, we can release pent up emotions, finding comfort and support in the tree’s stoic presence. Tree hugging offers a sanctuary of tranquility, allowing us to disconnect from the chaos of modern living and rediscover our inner peace.

Hugging trees is not only a means of personal healing but also a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness with nature. Tree hugging encourages us to view trees not merely as resources to be exploited but as living beings that sustain life on this earth. It fosters a deep sense of responsibility for the environment and inspires us to take actions that protect and preserve our natural world.

A large parcel of land in Louisiana was part of my inheritance when my Mom passed away. My grandmother had purchased the land with the intention of building a family “camp” there upon my grandfather’s retirement. The land is in a beautiful spot but is heavily wooded with hickory trees and squirrels. My Mom had actually sold the trees forty years ago to a lumber broker. The broker promised my Mom that clearing the land was like a good haircut and he was correct, a recent drone photo shows our parcel of land as a very healthy, dense forest. We pay eight dollars in taxes yearly to support these trees and squirrels, it’s the least we can do for these magical trees.

The focal point of my front yard is a giant Magnolia tree. It is the bane of my existence in the spring and fall when it drops its waxy leaves, so much work. However, I love this tree very much. I had read about the benefits of magnolia trees, and my granddaughter, Freyja, has always been drawn to them. She makes bouquets out of the leaves and flowers. She mixes “potions” with them and makes beds for fairies with the leaves. We always add the leaves to our yearly Christmas wreaths.

As it turns out, more than two hundred and fifty ingredients can be found from the bark, flowers, and leaves of the Magnolia tree. Two of the main compounds are used in anti-cancer and anti-inflammation supplements. The extract of the bark of Magnolia trees has been used for over a thousand years in Chinese medicine for the treatment of maladies ranging from asthma, depression, muscle pain, and headaches.

Trees have helped me become more aware of my connection to something larger; I try to be compassionate and mindful of my surroundings, especially while raking.