Wish it could last forever
Vol. 3, Issue 47
THE GOOD NEWS
Love has no age limit
A centenarian couple wed this year and set a world record.
In 2014, former engineer Bernie Littman and retired teacher Marjorie Fiterman met at a costume party held at the Fountain View at Logan Square, the retirement home in Philadelphia where they live. They had both moved into the facility after losing their spouses of more than 60 years.
The couple dated for nine years before deciding to tie the knot. They exchanged vows in a traditional Jewish ceremony inside the Fountain View's piano bar in May. By that time, Littman was 100 years old and Fiterman was 102. With their combined ages equaling 202 years and 271 days, Guinness World Records officially declared they were the world's oldest newlyweds.
Mazel tov!
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Now that's dedication
Canadian accountant Duncan McCabe spent 10 months making a 27-second TikTok video. The project involved him going on 121 runs through the streets of Toronto -- for a total of 700 miles -- and using the popular GPS-tracking app Strava to track his efforts.
When he strung the app's maps of his runs together, the digital drawings came to life:
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Dave cooks a turkey
Every Christmas Eve, my husband Marcus and I drive around the neighborhood and listen to the late Stuart McLean of “The Viny Cafe” spin his wonderful holiday tales. We laugh at the characters’ antics even as we marvel at the area's light displays. Here’s a classic story:
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Happy holidays!
Due to the coming holidays — and my work schedule (the news never stops!) — this will be the final issue of 2024. Thanks to everyone who subscribed, everyone who recommended this newsletter, everyone who shared it with others and everyone who commented. I am so grateful to all of you.
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THIS WEEK’S POLL
LAST WEEK’S POLL
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THIS WEEK IN (POSITIVE) HISTORY
On December 18, 1892, Peter Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.
On December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens's classic story, "A Christmas Carol," was published.
On December 20, 1946, the film "It's a Wonderful Life," premiered. It later became a holiday classic.
On December 21, 1913, the first crossword puzzle appeared in The New York World.
On December 22, 2010, the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, which banned homosexuals serving openly in the U.S. military, was officially repealed.
On December 23, 1823, the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore, was first published in The Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel.
On December 24, 1948, a family moved into the world's first fully solar-heated home. The Dover Sun House played a pioneering role in the future of solar energy.
On December 25, 1818, the first known Christmas carol -- "Silent Night, Holy Night" -- was performed by The Handel & Hadyn Society.
On December 26, 1966, Jimi Hendrix wrote the song "Purple Haze" while backstage at the Upper Cut Club in London.
On December 27, 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City.
On December 28, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law.
On December 29, 1967, the "Star Trek" episode "Trouble With Tribbles" debuted on television.
On December 30, 1924, astronomer Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galaxies during a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
On December 31, 1904, the ball dropped at Times Square to signal the New Year for the first time.
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
December 18: English clown/pantomimist Joseph Grimaldi, baseball player Ty Cobb and pianist/bandleader Fletcher Henderson
December 19: magician/illusionist Criss Angel, actor Jake Gyllenhaal and journalist Ronan Farrow
December 20: producer Dick Wolf, Israeli illusionist/psychic Uri Geller and actress Kathryn Joosten
December 21: former English prime minister Benjamin Disraeli, British journalist/novelist Dame Rebecca West and Russian-American ballet dancer/instructor André Eglevsky
December 22: former Secretary of State Frank Kellogg, baseball player/manager/owner Connie Mack and actor Ralph Fiennes
December 23: singer Eddie Vedder, former French first lady/model/singer Carla Bruni and Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard
December 24: fashion designer Kate Spade, Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin and TV and radio show host Ryan Seacrest
December 25: Scottish singer Annie Lennox, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and “Great British Bake Off" winner/TV host/cookbook author Nadiya Hussain
December 26: English poet Thomas Gray, Nobel Prize-winning English economist Sir Norman Angell and novelist Henry Miller
December 27: German astronomer/mathematician Johannes Kepler, Canadian author Elizabeth Smart and actor Timothée Chalamet
December 28: late-night host/comedian Seth Meyers, actor Joe Manganiello and singer/songwriter/musician John Legend
December 29: President Andrew Johnson, British actor Jude Law and director Lilly Wachowski
December 30: English author Rudyard Kipling, guitarist Bo Diddley and singer Patti Smith
December 31: classical music composer Jennifer Higdon, South Korean pop star Psy and Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas
THIS WEEK’S FUN HOLIDAYS
December 18 is International Migrants Day, National Roast Suckling Pig Day, National Twin Day, Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day, Arabic Language Day, Bake Cookies Day and Flake Appreciation Day
December 19 is National Hard Candy Day, National Heroes and Heroines Day, National Oatmeal Muffin Day and Look for an Evergreen Day
December 20 is National Sangria Day, Cathode-Ray Tube Day, Dot Your I's Day, Games Day, Go Caroling Day and Sacagawea Day
December 21 is International Dalek Remembrance Day, World Snowboard Day, National Armagnac Day, National Coquito Day, National Crossword Puzzle Day, National Flashlight Day, National French Fried Shrimp Day, Don't Make Your Bed Day, Look on the Bright Side Day, Winter Solstice and Yule
December 22 is National Cookie Exchange Day, National Date Nut Bread Day, National Short Person Day and Mathematics Day
December 23 is National Christmas Movie Marathon Day, National Pfeffernusse Day, National Roots Day and Festivus
December 24 is National Consumer Rights Day, National Eggnog Day and Christmas Eve
December 25 is National Pumpkin Pie Day, Christmas and the start of Hanukkah
December 26 is National Candy Cane Day, National Homeowners Day, National Thank You Note Day, Boxing Day, Day of Goodwill and the beginning Kwanzaa
December 27 is National Fruitcake Day, National Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day and Visit the Zoo Day
December 28 is National Call a Friend Day, National Chocolate Candy Day, National Download Day, National Short Film Day and Card Playing Day
December 29 is International Cello Day, Pepper Pot Day and Tick Tock Day
December 30 is National Bacon Day, National Resolution Planning Day and Sodium Bicarbonate Day
December 31 is World Peace Meditation Day, National Champagne Day, New Year's Eve, No Interruptions Day, Hogmanay and Make up Your Mind Day
SIMPLE PLEASURES
* Lighting a candle in honor of Yule
* Buying a special ornament for the Christmas tree each year
* Watching people you love enjoy a meal you've prepared
HOW TO SPREAD JOY/KINDNESS
* Visiting someone's house for the holidays? Bring a small gift of appreciation.
* If you've enjoyed a good meal cooked by a family member or friend, offer to do the dishes.
* Take part in a Secret Santa exchange.
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RECOMMENDED SUBSTACK
MY LITTLE ONES - PAST & PRESENT
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever." --Richelle E. Goodrich
MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Thanks to Fountain View at Logan Square, Guinness World Records, YouTube, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Apple News, Duncan McCabe, TikTok, The Washington Post, Stuart McLean, The Vinyl Cafe, the National Marine Life Center, History.com, This Day in History, Britannica, Time and Date, On This Day, the Library of Congress, IMDb, Famous Birthdays, This Day in Music, National Today, National Day Calendar, Holidays Calendar, The Moonlight Reader Society, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Sarah Frison, Canva and Deposit Photos for art and story suggestions.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Read a positive/uplifting news story lately? Have an inspiring quote you want to share? Or do you just want to let me know about some of your favorite simple pleasures?
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Thank you for featuring my newsletter, Jade! Loved that video that the runner made!