Jan 31st “Daddy’s Birthday is coming up real SOON”

“This is a very old and well worn PHOTO of my “DAD”  –  Denny H. McClarren Sr. –  this PHOTO was still in his wallet – when he passed away –  so it did get lots of wear and tear – “Daddy”  was stationed in the  PHILIPPINES” –  and he did sign up for three… two-year terms, and in his last sign-up  term… was injured… and sent home.”

and … this  next photo that…  I am taking,  getting directions coming from “DADDY” …  as I,  just may be  all of   “Nine Years old!

This PHOTO  is  MOM –  TOMMY  – DENNY Jr. and  our DAD, Denny, Sr.,  and…  “DADDY”  on the Pavilion –  with  one foot on the bench, leaning forward…

 ” Daddy is  giving me, some directions on how to take this PHOTO…”

Still it is not as clear  as one would want it, but the memory is with us forever,  and this visual  is just a reminder, this was a “VISITING  SUNDAY” at  SAINT  VINCENT’s.”

Looking at this PHOTO… I see a couple of faces of some of the other children… sitting on the bench where we are enjoying the “VISIT” with our “PARENTS”.

My Mom and Dad also enjoyed the  other kids as they often had extra  of the food that they brought for us… and the kids enjoyed talking with them…and would just hang out with us… as sometimes my DAD would also  bring “Watermelon” to be shared with our friends.

We always enjoyed sitting at the long tables on the Pavilion…and with the long benches… some of  the other  children, who never had Visitors… would like to talk with our Parents and have some FUN… on a  Visiting Sunday!

“Happy Birthday DADDY… it will be here, in just two days!”

Jan 31st “CHINESE NEW YEAR” Starts February 1st, 2022

Every year, China, along with countries around the world, ring in the Chinese New Year. This highly anticipated event is also known as the Spring Festival.

Many people are familiar with the western world’s New Year, which falls on January 1st. Because it coincides with the Gregorian calendar, it is the same date every year. The Chinese New Year coincides with the lunar calendar. On the lunar calendar, the first day of the month begins during the new moon. Because of this, the Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. However, it does always fall between January 21 and February 21.

The traditional holiday period for the Spring Festival lasts 23 days. The public holiday is celebrated for 7 days. This means those in Mainland China who celebrate the Chinese New Year get 7 days off from work.
Another feature of the Chinese New Year is each year is always associated with an animal. The animals always go in a certain order and repeat every 12 years. These animals include:

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• Goat
• Monkey
• Rooster
• Dog
• Pig

Since the year 2020 is the year of the rat, 2021 will be the year of the ox. According to the Buddhist religion, Buddha promised gifts to all the animals who would come to honor him. Only these 12 animals came. Some Buddhists also believe that when babies are born, they inherit characteristics from the animal of their birth year.

HOW TO OBSERVE #ChineseNewYear

People all around the world celebrate this holiday. Traditional celebrations include lighting firecrackers. These firecrackers are supposed to scare off bad luck. It is also a ceremonial day to pray to gods for a good planting and harvest season. Many families host huge New Year’s Eve dinners. Children receive lucky money in red envelopes. Lantern festivals, colorful decorations, dragon dances, dumplings, desserts, and special wine are also a part of the celebration.

Just as there are ways to observe the day, there are also many things you aren’t supposed to do. The Chinese have a strong belief in good and bad luck. If you do any of these things on New Year’s Day, it will bring bad luck for the rest of the year:

• Wash your hair
• Eat porridge
• Do needlework
• Use unlucky words
• Wash clothes
• Sweep the floor

There are also things that should be avoided during the entire Spring Festival. These things include crying, killing, breaking dishes, wearing black or white clothes, using scissors or knives, and visiting people in the hospital.

While you celebrate, use #ChineseNewYear to share on social media.

CHINESE NEW YEAR HISTORY

The origin of the Chinese New Year goes back to the Shang Dynasty from 1600 to 1046 BC. During this time, people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods at the beginning of the year. The date of the Chinese New Year was established during the Han Dynasty from 202 BC to 220 AD. Through the years, different ways of celebrating the New Year evolved. In 1949, the Chinese New Year was renamed the Spring Festival.

DATES
25 January 2020
12 February 2021
1 February 2022
22 January 2023
10 February 2024
29 January 2025
17 February 2026
6 February 2027
26 January 2028
13 February 2029
3 February 2030

Jan 30th “Give ME, Five Minutes more to remember”

“Just FIVE (5) Years Later”

“Yesterday…that is what is seems to be  – – just “YESTERDAY” when we three little children  of Mr. and Mrs. Denny McClarren Sr., would spend a day together in the “Fair Grounds Park” and enjoyed taking a few PHOTOS – – of which…  I am NOW so Grateful and Thankful – – that our FAMILY owned such a small little box – – that made the most wonderful ‘Memories’   – – that I treasure – – since these old  PHOTOS – – bring to LIFE – – to reality – –  proof… positive…  that back in the 1940’s our FAMILY did have days of real enjoyment – – even though there was … that war – WWII going on  – – and the TIMES were tough for all of AMERICA… then.”

“When you walk around in the PARK… there is always a “terrific” backdrop of the PARK – – making for every PHOTO  – – that is taken to have a very good background – – just to show that a full day spent in the PARK… makes for a really good day to  be remember… forever!”

These pictures  were taken in Fairgrounds Park, in North Saint Louis, Missouri.

A good guess would be  the  Summer of 1944! We often walked to the “Park” as this was very close to our home, and we could just go for some time to   “Fish”  and or  “Play” and also do with our parents.

One of the stories you will read about, (just check where to find it on the “search” bar)… is my having to crisscross through this “park to buy  sugar  when on sale,   and of course in those days you had to have your  “Ration”  coupon to  even think of buying sugar!   

Many years later,  when in  High School   –  I walked through this very same park,  to and from school, with my arms full of BOOKS  each and every day!    No bus service!

Jan 29th “Denny, Sr., Birthday is coming real soon”

Here we are in Circleville, OHIO…

maybe 1940…and this is GRANDMA   McClarren’s.. Farm.

From the left…Mary Ellen…DENNY, Jr… TOMMY…and DENNY, Sr. – – back then…most men wore white shoes and those flat-top white straw hats in the Summer  months.

As… YOU CAN SEE…MY  FATHER… ALWAYS HAD HIS WHITE SHOES AND WHITE HATS… he was always good looking…at any age…

For an “eighty” something  year old PHOTO…looks like we can still have good “MEMORIES” of our trips to OHIO!

One memory that …I remember …is on the long trips to OHIO…as long as the vehicle was moving… it had to be moving… I would sleep and sleep and never a word from me – –

— but let that vehicle stop… the motor turned off at the gas stations…

— you could hear me … louder than the whole gang… of us.

“WHY” – – “NO ONE could figure it out?” “The vehicle  just had to be moving.”

NOW… that I am thinking about it… whenever I would be driving …especially the long trips that my husband and the family would take… to FLORIDA or some FAMILY get-to-gather trips…

I would drive and drive…and I would not stop… for anything – we were going to get to where ever… and… unless I needed to visit the rest room or the vehicle needed gas… we made NO STOPS!

Well, MONDAY the 24th,  was little DENNY’s BIRTHDAY…and I know that he is having more FUN…

Since he is NOW… in a far greater place to be… than all of us…put to gather… so another HAPPY BIRTHDAY…DENNY!

But in just another four (4) days will be our  “DADDY’s Birthday” and I know that both Denny, Jr., and Denny Sr., with all the rest our our family… will be having so much FUN… just celebrating to the NEXT  Highest Cloud above!

“Happy BIRTHDAY DADDY…DENNY,  Sr.”

Jan 28th “Just getting ready for another Birthday, DADDY”

This is a terrific Birthday  remembrance  of our “DADDY” as seen below with  the first born son, DENNY, Jr., and our Mommy.

This photo was taken in the backyard our our Aunt Irene Brady Riley, and she is probably taking this picture.

When  we were little,  and live across the “Fairgrounds Park” in North Saint Louis … from our Aunt Irene,  we were able to walk as it was always a nice walk through the Park.

In those days of the 1930’s and early 1940’s we did a lot of walking, since we  lived between the “Fairground Park” and  the “O’Fallon Park”  as seen here.

There is nothing like having a “PARK” near by where you live. 

When you want to see more of the neighbor hood where you live it is nice to take a walk, or when you can not do as much walking… take a slow drive to the “PARK’ … and sit and enjoy a lunch or may just do some Fishing… just for fun.

We were LUCKY to have “DADDY” as we had an automobile and he like to drive. 

As I remember… we would take a drive to see our Grandparents in OHIO, sometimes …twice a year!

Remembering the good ole days…  and DADDY’s Birthday will be here  in  just a few days… and I like to write something and add a photo or two,  just for the memory!