Marie’s June Article

June, 2022

When we had some lovely, warm, sunny days in May, it reminded me of the old saying – ‘Never cast a clout till May be out’.  It has always been a mystery as to whether this means when the month of May is over or the May blossom is out  With global warming and some strange unseasonable weather lately, I made up my mind to dress according to the day’s weather and forget the saying.

I am not into technology, but lately I have seen how Facebook can evoke memories, as my daughter has been in touch with her cousins who have posted photographs , not only of themselves but their parents and siblings.  It was great to see my late sister and her family from many years ago.  So, perhaps technology has a good side.

In 1886 pharmacist John Pemberton first patented a fizzy drink as a medicine, named Coca-Cola.  In the first year sales averaged 9 drinks a day.  Now the Coca-Cola Company sells 1.9 billion servings of its portfolio of drinks in more than 200 countries each day. Dr. Pemberton made various health claims about the drink including it was a valuable brain tonic that would cure headaches, relieve exhaustion and calm nerves. Claims that the soft drink contained cocaine have existed since the company’s founding. Cocaine was legal at the time and a common ingredient in medicines.  The company said, “Cocaine has never been an added ingredient in Coca-Cola.”

My better half is obsessed with the ‘weather’.  He watches one weather forecast after another but what I said to him was, “Whether the weather be cold; whether the weather be hot.  Weather the weather whatever the weather,  whether you like it or not.”

There are many folk around us – lonely, sad – a little shy. Those who sometimes feel        forgotten as the busy world goes by.  Let’s expand our happy circle; show the lonely that we care.  Draw them into our friendship’s keeping.  Friends are friendly everywhere. 

Marie Cove.