Walpurgis Eve
April 30 marks a major event in northern Europe, and particularly Sweden. May Day and its eve signal the passing of winter and the arrival of spring. It's no coincidence that exactly six months later All Saints' Day and its eve (Halloween) occur at harvest time.
In medieval Sweden, the fiscal year stretched from May 1 to April 30, giving an additional reason for celebration on Walpurgis Eve. In rural areas, livestock was allowed to roam freely on the night of April 30, and therefore large bonfires were lit to scare away carnivores. Some people felt the bonfires also kept witches and the devil at bay.
The name Walpurgis comes from the 8th-century English saint who traveled to Germany as a missionary. Her canonization date of May 1 connected her name to this popular celebration of springtime and gave it legitimacy.
Walpurgis is especially popular with university students, who in recent years have added new activities to the traditional singing and dancing. For example, in Uppsala the students ride homemade, decorated rafts down the Fyrisan River through the middle of town. It looks really cold!
New Email Address
Due to major problems with my email account on AOL, I am changing my email address to:
marystahlke@gmail.com
Hacked!
Did you see the news report yesterday about AOL being hacked? Two percent of AOL users had their accounts compromised. Well, I am among the unlucky two percent.
If you receive an odd email message from me, don't open it! Or you'll have the same jobs that I'm doing this morning: changing all my passwords, and trying to recover my lost email contact list.
Computers are like cars--can't live with them, can't live without them.
Prom Invitation
Every generation has its own culture surrounding rites of passage. Many of today's teenagers go to great lengths not only to prepare for prom itself, but to make the invitation memorable, too.
The high school art teacher gave Adam a long roll of paper, and he decorated it with balloons, CDs, and a calligraphic invitation to prom. He received permission to install it on Saturday, and the banner stretched about 15 feet above his girlfriend's locker. This morning, Adam made sure to arrive at school a little early, before his girlfriend came to her locker, to stand there to greet her. Rachel and Sarah told me that she was thrilled with the invitation, and even cried after he left for class.
Bravo, Adam!
Happy Birthday, Dad!
April 26, 2014. Today my Dad is 80 years old.
Last fall, when his survival seemed like a matter of days, if not hours, he grieved that he wouldn't make 80. It is an important milestone for him, and now he has done it. His voice this morning shone with pleasure.
We will be Skyping tonight during his party. Looking forward to it very much.
Justification
Love your cup of joe in the morning? Well, keep on drinkin' it, and maybe brew another one – a new study says it just might decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes.
CNN reports the link is not new, but this most recent study focused on changing coffee consumption - increasing and decreasing it over time. Drinking less coffee was associated with a 17 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes . . . .
The Los Angeles Times points out previous work has shown it's the chemical compounds in coffee and not the caffeine that is likely responsible for the lowered risk of the disease - so by this observation - both decaf and regular should have the same benefits.
A Harvard researcher said up to six cups a day is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This is, of course, as long as the java doesn't make you all jittery or give you tremors.
But not so fast - don't go grabbing three extra java frappucinos. The TYPE of coffee you drink matters - there's always a catch, isn't there? Lattes and other specialty drinks, like, you know, a venti iced white chocolate mocha, were not studied. Just good old black coffee with milk and sugar.
source: http://www.aol.com/article/2014/04/25/more-coffee-may-reduce-risk-of-type-ii-diabetes/20875666/?ncid
Great Teaching Idea
From the school circular we received:
Today, April 24, is Poem in Your Pocket Day and Grace School is celebrating! Teachers and staff will be asking students at random if they have a poem in their pocket. If the child has one to share, they win a prize from the library media center. Any poem, original or not, counts.
Spring Has Sprung!
Joy! After a long hard winter, today blesses us with a clear sky, gentle winds, warm weather, and new flowers in the planters around our village. Color outdoors!
The Gift of Song
About a month ago, my sister organized a hymn sing for my parents. When it's not possible to leave home, then one brings the party in.
The organist at a church in the neighborhood played their home organ, and several guests who are singers also participated. Mom and Dad's favorite hymns were featured, and the organist concluded with a piece based on "A Mighty Fortress."
My father, who mouthed many of the hymn texts, eventually became quite emotional. My mother and sister sat on either side of him, holding his hands, to let him know they love him. It was an uplifting evening for everyone, much needed in this time of health issues and care-taking.
The Unexpected
Life is never dull in our house--for example, three overnights in the emergency room and hospital, within eight days. Jonathan and Lois, my sister-in-law, took the first two, with Peter's appendectomy, and I did the honors last Tuesday night with Rachel's severe pain in her upper back. Both children are healing, for which we are thankful. But such events are not part of the normal schedule!
