Kind Hearts

 

Are Healthier Hearts!

This wonderful wall mural in Bondi Beach, Australia caught my eye while I was in Australia in 2018. I thought of it after reading this fabulous post by my dear blogger buddy The Frog and PenguInn. The post was about Random Acts of Kindness Day, which was celebrated on Monday, February 17. I'm a little late to the celebration, but as our bloggy buddy wrote, "It's never too late to celebrate kindness."  

While I was thinking about writing this post the words "kind hearts" came to mind. I did a lot of poking around on line and found that literally kind deeds help our hearts. Really! There were a number of articles, but I found this one, The Science of Kindness, on the University Hospitals (Cleveland) website to have a great set of information. There is both a podcast and the transcript of the podcast and though it may seem lengthy there was great information. The summation really caught my attention. 

"The simple human act of kindness has numerous health benefits. It can help you experience fewer aches and pain and lower your blood pressure. It can protect your overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. It’s free, widely available and has no side effects."

I'm not a physician and I'm not beginning to suggest tossing away your medications, but I am prescribing random acts of kindness. 

On a different note, it's been a cold and windy while in New York City. I didn't make plans to go away and I certainly will give it a lot more thought for next winter. But in the meantime let's take a virtual trip to Australia where it's summer. Sounds good to me. 

Even an overcast day on Bondi Beach is looking good right now. 

View of Sydney from the harbor

The iconic Sydney Opera House 

I hope these memories of Sydney have made these chilly winter days feel a little warmer. I know they have for me. Is anyone else having warm weather dreams? 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy! 

    

Hello, Young Lovers

 

It's still Valentine's Day in New York City

I'm not sure how I missed celebrating Valentine's Day in Buttercupland. I got somewhat overwhelmed by all the Instagram festivities and before I knew it, it was February 15 and then February 16. But during my walk today I realized that it was Valentine weekend in New York and there were still Valentine signs throughout the neighborhood. The picture above is the window of our local stationery store. I didn't get pictures of the Valentine cards still on display at CVS, but I did get a picture of a couple with heart balloons sitting on a bench in the median on Broadway.

It's still heart time on Broadway

I had a fun Valentine's Day, with actual cards, email cards and text messages. So there are definitely no complaints about my celebration. But seeing all the flowers and balloons around got me to thinking of my younger years and romantic Valentine days. Alas, they are past and I had a few moments of nostalgic for those days/years of romance past. The words to George Gershwin's "But Not for Me," came to mind: "They're writing songs of love, but not for me." 

I had a little -- very little -- sniffle and then these words came to me. These lyrics are from one of my favorite musicals, "The King and I," and the song is "Hello, Young Lovers." Anna sings to her late husband and remembers her life in England. "Hello, young lovers, whoever you are. I hope your troubles are few. All my good wishes go with you tonight. I've had a love like you." If Anna could find romance in Siam/Thailand when least expected I realized that there's hope for Buttercup in New York City. I remembered my perfect word for 2025, dream, and saw that romance might be just about the future. What do you think, friends? Is romance around the corner for those of us in the senior set? 

What's on your schedule for the week ahead? I've got book club tomorrow. I loved our book this month, The Man Who Died Twice, by Richard Osman. It's part of a four book series about a group of amateur detectives at a retirement community in Southern England. I've read them all and enjoyed them very much. Eagerly waiting for book number five.   

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

The Twilight of the Penny

The Penny, aka the Lincoln Penny

When I was growing up we celebrated Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday, February 12 and February 22. Presidents Day was, like so many things we have come to know, not a part of our lives. But the penny, the Lincoln Penny was very much part of our lives. One of the treats of my growing up years was buying penny candy for one or two cents a piece. 

The years have gone by and I think I may be one of the few people I know who still bends down to pick up a penny on the sidewalk. Of course, whenever I do that I recite the same jingle, "Find a penny, pick it up. All the day you'll have good luck." Does anyone else have this same old-fashioned habit?

It seems that this may be the twilight of the penny, as there are calls for the United States to stop minting it. I take no sides on this issue. It may well be time to bid farewell to our old friend, first minted in 1909. The number of people using cash has declined and nothing seems to cost a penny anymore. Penny candy hasn't been a penny in decades. America isn't the only country that changes its currency system. Britain gave up the shilling in 1971 and went to a decimal based system. 

What I will miss is seeing a picture of one of the finest Americans that ever lived, Abraham Lincoln every time I see a penny. It's been a steady reminder of a President who gave us words that still inspire and challenge almost 160 years after he spoke them in March 1865.

From Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address:

   With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.

Happy birthday, President Lincoln. Your memory is a blessing. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Once Again, All You Need is Love and KC Football

 

As I have mentioned before I'm not an especial football fan. I know that's a somewhat controversial statement to make while the Super Bowl is literally playing, but it's the truth. I liked high school and college football games, at least when the weather wasn't too cold. In those days I was watching in New England and the end of the season could be really cold. But my football enjoyment didn't translate to professional football.    

I understand that the rest of the country doesn't agree with me, especially not my friends who are Kansas City Chiefs fans. They are fervent fans. So in their honor Buttercupland is officially rooting for the Chiefs and hoping that the  team gets a third Super Bowl win in three tries. 

I do like the commercials, especially the Clydesdales and reading about all of the different snacks that are being served around the country tonight. My snacks are routine. I went wild and bought a bottle of Diet Pepsi and I'm going to make popcorn, which is one of my regular snacks. I also went wild with a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner and may cap off the evening with a hot cocoa later. Are you having special snacks for Super Bowl?

On a different, but related topic, in 2023 I predicted that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were a real thing romance. I also predicted that they were going to get married and I still stand by this prediction. No bets on when, but, friends, it's going to happen. I'm kind of thinking before the fall 2025 football season begins. 

It's been a busy weekend. It was the start of my synagogue's 200th anniversary celebration and it was a great experience. I'm planning to do post about it later in the week with some of my photographs. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and Go, Chiefs!  

Welcome to Gatot

 

Please Meet Gatot

I'm delighted to introduce the newest member of the Buttercupland family, Gatot. We adopted Gatot at the end of 2024 and no surprise, he fits right in. Gatot, like our previous adopted orangutan, Joyce, was adopted via the wonderful organization, International Animal Rescue. Gatot is living in a rescue center in Borneo and happily, he is flourishing. 

I just received a first report on Gatot and it's the perfect report for a young and growing orangutan. 

Gatot continues to make great progress with his rehabilitation and he now weighs 20.6kg. His foraging skills have improved greatly within the last few months and he is still incredibly close with his best friend, Paijo! The two often travel together around the forest, exploring and often stopping to hug one another. These displays of affection between the two orangutans are very endearing!

Gatot's daily routine involves a lot of foraging, which he has now become very skilled at. His diet varies according to the numerous different fruits available to him. He also likes to eat food given to him by the keepers, such as sweet potatoes.

I am very hopeful that Gatot will continue to do well and he, too, will be able to reside outside of the rehab center and be part of the group of orangutans. 

No-Spending January is over and though I was tempted many times -- clothes and jewelry really called out to me -- I only spent $4.98 on "things." I bought two pairs of socks and a box of Valentines. The cards were not a very thought out purchase. They were very cute and only $3.99, but they're cards for elementary school and have no envelopes. I'll use them as enclosures with the cards I bought today. I'm not doing No-Spending in February, but I'm going to really think about purchases and not let myself be swayed by things that catch my eye. Is anyone else an impulse buyer?

We've had some glorious weather -- for February -- and I've been able to be out and enjoy walking. I finished January with 87.9 miles and this week is looking good, too. I got to the gym today and made a trip to the Metropolitan Museum yesterday.

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

Do You Remember 1975?

Happy 50th, Saturday Night Live

In 1975 Wheel of Fortuned debuted in January and a month later Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. American military involvement in Vietnam came to an end after decades and New York City went bankrupt. In October of the same year I moved to New York City, and in that same month Saturday Night Live aired its first episode. Fifty years later I'm still in New York City and Saturday Night Live is still going strong. 

 I had the amazing fortune to participate in The SNL 50 Experience last week. It was an immersive tour of some of the highlights of the show over the last 50 years. I was somewhat of an anomaly at the Experience. I was one of the few people there who had been born when the show was first aired, let alone someone who watched the very first season. 

Looking back, the first season of what was then called The Not Ready for Prime Time Players introduced Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin and Chevy Chase. The next 49 seasons would continue to present some/most of American comedy that went far beyond the weekly show. 

I got to visit  a model of the hair and makeup studio 

The Experience included models of the Saturday Night Live studios. There was a model of the stage -- and we got to be introduced just like the hosts. This is the clip that I posted on Instagram. We also had the opportunity to be part of the Weekend Update segment, which was incredible fun. And no, I am not actually drinking scotch in my star turn. 

Buttercup at her dream job, as part of the Weekend Update team

Our final Experience event was a visit to Wayne's World. We stepped into the basement in Aurora, Illinois and I expected that Wayne and Garth ( Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) would be sitting on the couch. It was a perfect replica and I was definitely taking giant steps back in time and space. 

We just need Wayne and Garth to complete the scene

The day was completed with a visit to the Five Time Hosts lounge and and refreshments -- Prosecco and sparkling cider -- were served. 

An enormous thanks to NBC Saturday night Live for an iconic and amazing afternoon, and a bigger thanks to the cast and writers of Saturday Night Live. Thanks for fifty years of laughter, music and some of the most iconic moments of the last decades.  

My SNL afternoon was an amazing way to end January. February has some treats ahead, too. I'll be reporting back on No-Spending January and the Journey of 1,000 Miles.  We have two anniversaries: the 200th anniversary of my synagogue and Buttercupland's Sweet Sixteen. I'm planning for visits to a new coffee shop and to Brooklyn, and of course, we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day. Please stop by and be part of the fun.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

For All the Lost Families

 

This month we've celebrated Penguin Awareness and Polka Dots, as well as a mention for National Bagel Day. But in the midst of the fun and the silly, January holds a very serious day, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Usually Buttercupland is a place for light topics, some information and photographs, but today we remember those murdered during the Holocaust. May their memories for for blessings. 

Today also marks the eightieth liberation of Auschwitz by Russian troops. Between its establishment in 1940 in German-occupied Poland and its liberation, about 1.1 million people were killed there. This includes about a million Jews, and this was only one of a number of concentration camps established during World War II.

All four of my grandparents came to America from Eastern Europe before the First World War, but a lot of their family stayed in what was then Poland and Russia and now Ukraine and Belarus. My paternal grandmother came to America with my grandfather in 1918 and her family stayed in Russia. Excluding a few cousins, all of her family was killed. She never spoke of the family left behind and I, sadly, never asked any questions. Many years after her death in 1975 my aunt shared the few photographs of my grandmother's siblings that had been sent to her before the war. I was struck by how much her brother Leo and my father resembled each other. I've had no luck discovering what happened to my family, but today has made me begin to search again for the history of my lost family.   

For all the lost families: we must remember, so they will not be forgotten. 

As ever, thanks for visiting. Always appreciate your visits.