Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Intriguing Trivia

Posted Friday, August 27, 2021, at 8:21 PM

Things I forgot or never knew:

*Toilet paper was available in colors in the 1950’s. By the 1980’s, the colors vanished. *The inventor of the toilet paper roll patented in 1871 was Seth Wheeler.

*There is a difference between macarons and macaroons. *Macaroon was one of the 28 ice cream flavors available at Howard Johnson’s. *To try theirs, you must go to Lake George, NY to the last remaining Howard Johnson’s, if it’s indeed still open, or travel back in time to 2016. (Sometimes there are contradictions among sources. THAT I haven't forgotten). *Once upon a time there were over 1000 HOJO’s.

*Horseradish is an extremely old plant that has been around for ‘all of recorded history’ according to one source named Danilo Alfero. Doesn’t that mean it was around before recorded history, too? It sprang up in Russia and Hungary first. It is culinarily related to wasabi and is a cousin to broccoli. That explains a thing or two. I’m not a fan.

.*Insomnia might be more prevalent in left-handed folks. Should I have been a left-hander? *There is a word for fear of all left things- sinistrophobia. I wonder if there is a computer mouse for lefties?

*A group calling themselves Wellcat created - among other days - a Bad Poetry Day that is celebrated August 18. To honor the day, former school chums gather, write some bad poetry and send it to a former English teacher. HA! Most of us would take off a few points for it being late, then celebrate receiving it! A bad poetry assignment tops receiving no assignment at all.

*Jacqueline Milgate invented Kiss and Make Up Day, celebrated on August 25 - her claim to fame - which is also her birthday. Let’s jump on that bandwagon! What special fun day could you create on yours?