The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve

TNT:

Tishwash:   The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve

A beautiful read during this magical season

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.

He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

 Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go." "Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '73 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time you’re gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked. "None for me," said the officer. "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

 The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer." "Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said. George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued. "Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell.

Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

Merry Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS

One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret

TNT:

Mot: One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret

One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret, right in front of thousands of New Yorkers who didn’t know what was going on.

When you watch Miracle on 34th Street, you’re not looking at a Hollywood set or paid extras. You’re seeing a real moment from 1946, captured as it happened.

Director George Seaton decided not to use a studio and instead put his cast in the real Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Since the parade was live and couldn’t be stopped or done again, the crew had to work very carefully.

To avoid drawing attention, cameras were tucked away in apartment windows and small nooks along the street.

Edmund Gwenn didn’t just play Santa for the movie; he actually served as the official Santa for the real 1946 parade.

He rode the final float and even climbed the ladder to the Macy’s marquee at the end, all while thousands of cheering spectators had no clue he was an actor filming a movie.

The crew used nine cameras simultaneously to ensure they caught every moment. It was so cold that November morning that the cameras actually froze, forcing the crew to use heating blankets to keep them running.

The looks of amazement on the children’s faces in the film are real because they truly thought they were witnessing Santa Claus’s arrival in New York. Even 8-year-old Natalie Wood, who played Susan, admitted years later that she believed Gwenn was the real deal during filming because she never saw him without his beard.

This mix of real life and storytelling turned the film into a lasting snapshot of the true joy of a New York City Christmas after the war.

Gwenn’s belief wasn’t just a charming sentiment for the cameras; it was rooted in a production that blurred the lines between fiction and reality.

"Now I know there's a Santa Claus." The "miracle" followed Edmund Gwenn all the way to the Academy Awards. When he stepped onto the stage to accept his Best Supporting Actor Oscar, he stayed true to the spirit of the film. He famously told the audience:

"Now I know there's a Santa Claus."

Merry Christmas ALL - from Rodney!!

Warm holiday greetings friends!

It’s that time of year again, time for some more a cappella Christmas cheer! 

I'm so honored to be able to spread Christmas love via music with my friends!

If you’ve already received this gift through social media or other means I apologize. Just trying to be sure no one gets left out! Please share and share again with other music lovers!

Here's the youtube link for this year’s present.
https://youtu.be/2zVwHyp8i58

Or you can click here and listen to Christmas arrangements from the past.

They are all here on my youtube channel. Feel free to subscribe or just drop by for a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/@musicology47/playlists

Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!!

God Bless!

~Rod

20 Life Traps That Are So, So, Sooooo Easy To Fall Into

20 Life Traps That Are So, So, Sooooo Easy To Fall Into, But Should Be Avoided At ALL COSTS

Jake Farrington  Sun, November 9, 2025   BuzzFeed

In our culture, we don't really respect our elders enough, despite hearing that phrase over and over growing up. While I think people of every generation have something to teach each other, young or old, it's undeniable that people with more life experience have wisdom to impart on those just getting started.

Recently, Reddit user Otherwise-Body-7721 asked, "What's a 'trap' in life that no one warns young people about, but absolutely should?" I found a lot of wisdom in this thread, and had to share some of the best advice from people who have lived to tell their tales.

1. "Don't become so focused on achievement that you forget to enjoy life."  —u/Klutzy_Dirt_923

"I had a roommate for a bit in my 20s. He tied his self-worth to his job performance. He'd come home sad or angry that his project wasn't moving quickly enough. We were at a bar together once, and I heard him crash and burn with a girl who seemed interested because he kept being self-deprecating and complaining about his job instead of talking about anything interesting he did.

Too many people put their self-worth in their job/achievements rather than seeing that as a financial means to support the life they want."  —u/dishonourableaccount

2. "Credit card debt. It's amazing how quickly debt can build, and as a young person, you assume you'll just pay it off. In reality, if you're not careful, suddenly it's overwhelming!"  —u/Riesroshi

3. "There are a lot of people around me who just never travel and work themselves to death. It's pretty sad. Even a weekend getaway to a state park or something does wonders for resetting how you feel mentally. They say they will travel when they're retired, but you don't know if you'll be here, and your health will certainly be worse than now if you are."  —u/Puzzleheaded-Owl7664

4. "Don't be in a rush to settle down. I'm 30 and I’ve seen many people settling down with the wrong person, and their partners slowly erode their enjoyment of life."  —u/Critical_Dot6979

"Even worse? Having babies with them. I have a friend who openly admits she regrets having kids with her husband."  —u/Any_Difficulty_6817

"Your partner's problems can ruin your life. And falling in love makes it really hard to objectively look at how serious those problems may be."  —u/Outrageous-9859

5. "Fiber is love, fiber is life."   —u/Pleasant_Scar9811

6. "For me, one of the biggest traps is social media, especially apps like TikTok or Instagram. They mess with your dopamine, your attention span, your self-esteem, and even your relationships. It’s so easy to block, unfollow, or replace people the moment there’s conflict or disagreement, instead of learning to communicate, commit, and work through things.

There’s also an overload of opinions and advice out there; it can leave you confused or disconnected from your own judgment. I’m still hooked on it myself, and I can see both the good and the bad sides. But it’s such a massive influence on young people’s lives now and not always in a healthy way." —u/Curious-0ne

7. "Lifestyle creep! You get a raise and immediately upgrade your apartment or your car, locking yourself into a higher cost of living forever! No one tells you that saving your raise is the only way to get free!" —u/Wrong-Election1997

"We qualified for a mortgage four times higher than what I wanted. I refused to spend that much. I love our home, and it's now worth over six times what I paid. I refused the 'lifestyle creep'. We all have a choice."  —u/thegeeksshallinherit

8. "Don't feel like you have to have it all figured out. At 40, I am winging it as much as I did when I was 16. I assumed adults felt more put-together, but I’m still waiting for that to actually happen. I remember my parents turning 40 and having a big 'over the hill' party with all sorts of senior props. I celebrated my 40th earlier this year with a week at Disney. Definitely still just an oversized child here."  —u/Hi_NOT_the_problem

9. "I had a boss give me the good advice of ‘don’t be good at what you don’t want to do.’ Unfortunately, I received that advice late and wasted some years doing things that weren’t interesting or challenging.

There’s nothing wrong with knowing how to do jobs you don’t want (in fact, it can be a very good thing), but sometimes you may want to hide some of that talent from management and potential employers to avoid getting pigeon-holed. If you make yourself irreplaceable with skills you don’t enjoy utilizing, you will find that management has almost no incentive to promote you."   —u/Boxcars4Peace

10. "Finally being able to afford 'the good version' of something, only to realize you're now too scared to actually use it. My fancy towels were 'for guests' who don't exist. My nice pans were 'for special occasions.' My entire adult life became a museum of things I was terrified to ruin."  —u/Kitchen-Fan6343

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/older-people-warning-younger-people-011602549.html

4 Common Thanksgiving Myths And The Real Facts Behind Them

VERIFY: 4 Common Thanksgiving Myths And The Real Facts Behind Them

Author: VERIFY, Terry Spry Jr.
Published: 4:08 PM EST November 23, 2020

The VERIFY team separated fact from fiction on 4 popular Thanksgiving myths including who started the turkey pardoning tradition and how Black Friday got its name.

Thanksgiving is almost here and with the annual festivities also comes years upon years of myths that have developed around one of the biggest holidays of the year for Americans. The myths, misconceptions and legends around Thanksgiving predate the internet, yet have persisted in the digital world all the same. Here are four common Thanksgiving myths, all of which are false, and the truth behind the holiday weekend’s various stories.

MYTH: Thanksgiving has been celebrated every year since the nation’s founding

According to the National Archives, George Washington issued a proclamation that named Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin".

At that point, however, Thanksgiving wasn’t codified into law as an annual holiday. It was up to the sitting president to declare a day of “Thanksgiving and Prayer” and set the day and month for the holiday. And there were some years where no such day was declared.

For example, Thomas Jefferson opted against it while president. Monticello says Jefferson was against it because of his beliefs in separating religion from the government. Back then, Thanksgiving days were more religious-focused holidays. Thanksgiving was established as one of the first four federal holidays in 1870, when Congress passed the Holiday Act. That law established Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Independence Day as holidays, but Thanksgiving was the only one where the president had the discretion to set the date each year.

By that time, Thanksgiving already had an informal date. Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation set Thanksgiving as the last Thursday in November and subsequent presidents had followed that precedent.

However, Thanksgiving would have fallen on the last day of the month in 1939, so Franklin Roosevelt moved it to the month’s second-to-last Thursday because he worried a shortened Christmas season would dampen the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression. Some states defied the president’s move and made it state law that Thanksgiving was the last Thursday and so Congress sought to set a fixed date for the holiday to combat the confusion. A law was passed in 1941 that set Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/verify-tackling-common-thanksgiving-myths/507-e580ed91-8abc-47e0-8ffa-2b93a357bbeb

After 230 Years, The U.S. Penny Is Retired

After 230 Years, The U.S. Penny Is Retired—What To Do With The Ones You Still Have

Before you empty that change purse, here’s what shoppers should know.

Alexandra Emanuelli   Mon, November 17, 2025

As Dolly Parton once sang, “If teardrops were pennies and heartaches were gold, I'd have all the riches my pockets would hold.” These days, though, even Dolly’s pockets would be a little lighter. As of November 12, the U.S. Mint pressed its final circulating penny. The move comes after President Trump instructed the Treasury Department to halt production because the coin now costs more to make than it’s worth.

So what happens to the smallest form of currency when it suddenly disappears? Will your old change jars become tiny treasure chests? Probably not, according to coin expert Charmy Harker, who noted that our northern neighbor stopped minting pennies back in 2012 and most Canadians barely noticed. In an increasingly cashless society, the loss of the penny has more practical implications for shoppers than sentimental ones.

Are Retailers Changing Prices?

It probably won’t surprise you that there hasn’t been a single, unified response from retailers. Some national brands with strong Southern footprints—including Georgia-based Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba, and Carvel—have already announced they’ll round prices to the nearest nickel when customers pay with cash. Other stores are choosing a different approach and are simply asking shoppers to provide exact change.

The good news is that shoppers won’t suddenly be stuck with unusable coins. “Yes retailers will still be accepting pennies (except those that no longer accept cash for any purchases), and I believe they will be accepting pennies for a while, most likely until pennies that are currently in circulation become too scarce,” says Harker. Most major retailers have confirmed they’ll continue to take pennies at checkout, so the coin’s retirement won’t cause immediate chaos.

For anyone paying with a credit or debit card, nothing changes. Digital transactions will continue to ring up to the exact cent, and you won’t notice any difference.

What Should You Do With Your Pennies?

Even though the U.S. Mint has stopped producing new pennies, the ones already in your home, car, or junk drawer are still very much real money. Stores, banks, and most coin-counting machines will continue accepting them, so there’s no rush to dump out your change jar.

As Harker explains, “Pennies aren’t being recalled so they will still be in circulation for quite some time, and whether stores and/or banks need pennies will depend on how soon stores start rounding sales to the nickel.”

In practical terms, pennies won’t vanish overnight. Instead, they’ll slowly fade out of circulation as they get lost, damaged, or turned in for deposits. With no new pennies being minted to replace them, the national supply will naturally shrink until the coin becomes more of a rarity than a regular part of your wallet.

So what should you actually do with the ones you have?

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/230-years-u-penny-retired-210852058.html

Can You Just Keep The Cash If You Stumble Upon A Cache?

Can You Just Keep The Cash If You Stumble Upon A Cache?

Danielle Antosz  Mon, November 17, 2025   Moneywise

Ohio man bought $1K house, then found $10K in the basement

In a world where stories about hidden cash often end in legal headaches or ethical questions, one Ohio man showed how doing the right thing can turn a surprise find into something more meaningful.

Walter Castanedo of Toledo bought a rundown home in early 2024 with plans to renovate it. The three-bedroom, one-bath house cost him only $1,000. While clearing out the basement, he uncovered something he never expected: old envelopes stuffed with $100 bills. In total, he found about $10,000 hidden between paving stones.

"I just kind of felt like 'Whoa'," Castanedo told WTOL 11 reporter Steve Iwanek in early 2025. "Because you read about this stuff, but you never actually see it. And then when it's right there in front of you, it's kind of hard to process.”

Most of the bills appeared to be from the early 1980s, with the most recent from 1981, which suggested the money had been hidden for decades.

Finding treasure

Castanedo discovered five envelopes with money inside while gutting the basement of the small home. Some were wedged under bricks where he believed a potbelly stove once sat.

"They were black, but you could just make out when I shined a light on it,” Castanedo explained. “There were 100s in the corners."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, $10,000 in January of 1981 would be worth $36,276.44 as of December 2024.

But the real surprise wasn’t the cash itself. After the shock wore off, Castanedo tried to track down someone connected to the home’s past. With a few calls, he reached Andrew Aranyosi, who lived in the house from 1946 to 1967. Aranyosi believed his dad, Andrew Sr., likely hid the money.

"I talked to him (Aranyosi) and I said, 'Look, I found something in your basement," Castanedo told WTOL11. "I found some money in your basement and I'd like to split it with you. "

Aranyosi was shocked. He suspected his dad had likely hidden the cash, but he never knew about it.

"My dad built parts of the home," Aranyosi said. "He added a whole new bedroom on the back of the house above the kitchen, and that's actually the bedroom I was in. The $10,000 — I would say my father definitely tucked that somewhere in the bricks or wherever."

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ohio-man-bought-1k-house-123000239.html

28 People Who Know A Lottery Winner Share What Actually Happened To Them

28 People Who Know A Lottery Winner Share What Actually Happened To Them

Story by Edvinas Jovaišas

#1©Trevumm

My friends mom won like $100k or so when we were in grade 6. She was a single mom of 2 and they we’re pretty poor. She used it to give her kids a better, more comfortable life. It was little changes like the next winter they had new winter jackets and boots and stuff, not the worn old hand me downs they always had. My friends next birthday she got to have a big party for the whole class, nothing crazy just pizzas and stuff, but she’s never gotten to have that before and she was so happy.

#2©Earguy

I had a patient, a hairdresser who owned her own shop, who won about 6 million. Her winnings were announced in the local newspaper.

She consulted the right professionals, worked a plan to sell her salon, and mapped a way to retire on her winnings without a change in her lifestyle.

But she told me that she had old boyfriends, and even guys that barely knew her in high school, who called her with some variation of, "you know I always loved you..."  She just laughed and blew them off.

#3©Dvaone

I won $250k on a $5 scratch off 8 years ago.it was right before Christmas and i had been fired 2 weeks befor. After taxes we got a check for $167k and some change. Paid off all credit cards, bought the wife a brand new honda accord, bought a small business. Lived off it for the next several years while I grew my business and my wife got her masters. It was life changing!

#4©anon

Mom won a bit and was able to get my siblings and I new clothes and move out so she didn't have to stay in an abusive relationship.

#5©hornblower_83

Friend won 1 million. They paid off their house. Saved for their kids education and basically don’t live paycheque to paycheque anymore. Both of them still work full time.

#6©Kriskao

I won 1500 US dollars. Received like 950 because taxes. Donated it all to an orphanage in my home country because I was doing ok with money. Since then there have been times I needed the money but I don’t regret it.

#7©Mandalasan_612

My sister's ex won around $150 million. Nicest guy, his brother manages the money so he doesn't blow it. Living his best life, money never changed him, because he was already so chill. Dude deserves it after putting up with my sister. Helped out my niece (not his daughter) with

#8©Punkrockid19

My dad

He hit 5 outta 6 numbers in 1989 won like 16 grand. Payed off the family debts spent the rest on a computer and started his own business out of our dining room. Bout to sell it for a couple million this year. One ticket literally changed our lives.

#9©Burnsie312

I won 2000 on a scratch off once! Fixed my missing tooth lol.

#10©CaseyBoogies

My MIL won 33k on a scratch-off, she paid off some debt and got new windows installed on her house. The new windows in an 1890s farmhouse are amazing, don't think I've seen a happier woman!

#11©Kahazzarran

My neighbor won the lottery in his sixties, it was something like 1.2 million in the late 90s. We lived in a trailer park in a rural part of the US, a pretty low cost of living area so the money stretched pretty far.He bought his trailer and land outright with the money and pretty much just spent everyday drinking on his porch and yelling at his goats. IIRC he used a good chunk of what he won to put his son and grandkids through college. Died of liver failure at like 85 or something. Not a terrible way to do it, all said and done.

#12©Blondefarmgirl

Friends of ours won 30 mill. They took a group of us on vacation. Bought a cottage and built a house not much really changed. They are doing great.

#13©pascontent

Neighbor won a few millions, built an old folks home, named it after his mother and she refused to live there.

#14©PigStickerOnStone

I knew a welder who won a 30 million jackpot.

He retired, bought two Ford GTs and spends his time doing yardwork, playing low stakes poker tournaments, and raising his two young kids.

His wife bought a crib from me used for their second child.

TO READ MORE:    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/28-people-who-know-a-lottery-winner-share-what-actually-happened-to-them/ss-AA1OwkF5?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=f84a9d10d49945e2f5b21fda0ad1cd40&ei=43#image=2

MS Email Subscriber Update

June 16, 7pm (ET) UPDATE:

It looks like our MS email (Hotmail, MSN, Outlook and Live) problem has been fixed.

We sent out our 6pm Newsletter, and had less than .0015% bounce. Thank you to all our loyal readers for your patience, and continued readership.

The Dinar Recaps Team

Recaps Note to all Newsletter subscribers with a Hotmail, MSN, Outlook or Live email address

June 16, 7pm (ET) UPDATE: It looks like our MS email problem has been fixed. We just sent out our 6pm Newsletter, and had less than .0015% bounce. Thank you to all our loyal readers for your patience, and continued readership.

---

Since Thursday, we have had an issue with people with Microsoft (Hotmail, MSN, Outlook & Live) emails being bounced by THEIR email provider (Hotmail, MSN & Live).  As it is right now (late Saturday night), those email addresses have been dropped from our list, to protect our sending email server(s) from damage.

We have our email company Deliverability Team working on the situation.  Hopefully soon we will know what to do.

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The Forgotten History: 5 Surprising Facts About Mother's Day You Never Knew

The Forgotten History: 5 Surprising Facts About Mother's Day You Never Knew

By  MSTIMES•5/04/2025

The Evolution of Mother's Day: A Journey Through Time

Have you ever wondered about the real story behind Mother's Day? While we all celebrate this special occasion with flowers, cards, and gifts, the rich history of Mother's Day traditions holds fascinating surprises that many people don't know. Today, we're exploring five remarkable facts about Mother's Day that reveal its complex origins and evolution throughout history.

Many of us think of Mother's Day as a modern holiday created by greeting card companies, but its roots actually stretch back to ancient times. The traditions surrounding maternal celebration have evolved dramatically over centuries, taking different forms across cultures while maintaining the central theme of honoring motherhood.

Ancient Roots: Mother's Day Celebrations Before Modern Times

The concept of honoring mothers dates back thousands of years, far beyond the modern holiday we celebrate today. In ancient Greece, spring festivals were dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities in Greek mythology. Similarly, the Romans celebrated a festival called Hilaria, which honored Cybele, a mother goddess, in March. These ancient Mother's Day traditions provided the earliest foundations for our modern celebration.

What many people don't realize is that these ancient celebrations weren't focused on individual mothers as much as they were on motherhood as a divine concept. The worship of mother goddesses represented fertility, protection, and the continuation of life itself - concepts that still resonate with our modern understanding of motherhood.

Ancient Culture Maternal Celebration Deity Honored Approximate Time Period

Greek Spring Festival Rhea 6th century BCE

Roman Hilaria Festival Cybele March 15-27, Roman calendar

Celtic/Gaelic Seasonal celebrations Various mother goddesses Pre-Christian era

Egyptian Festivals Isis Ancient Egyptian period

Mothering Sunday: The Christian Connection

One of the most surprising facts about Mother's Day is its connection to Christian traditions. In 16th century England, a practice called "Mothering Sunday" emerged on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Originally, this was less about honoring mothers and more about returning to one's "mother church" (the main cathedral of the area). Domestic servants were given the day off to visit their home parish and families.

Over time, this religious observance evolved into a more secular celebration where children would present their mothers with flowers and small gifts. This tradition of Mothering Sunday became a precursor to our modern Mother's Day traditions, though with distinctive religious overtones that have largely faded from today's celebration. While American Mother's Day has different origins, this European tradition shows how maternal celebrations have taken various forms throughout history.

The Surprising Anti-War Origins of American Mother's Day

Perhaps the most unexpected fact about Mother's Day is that its American origins are deeply rooted in peace activism. In the 1850s, Ann Reeves Jarvis organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to improve sanitary conditions and lower infant mortality. During the Civil War, these clubs declared their neutrality and cared for wounded soldiers from both sides.

Following Ann's death, her daughter Anna Jarvis campaigned for a day to honor mothers, leading to the first official Mother's Day celebration in 1908. What's truly remarkable about these Mother's Day origins is that Anna Jarvis envisioned it as a day of peace and maternal values that could heal the divides of war. Julia Ward Howe, another influential figure, proposed a "Mother's Day for Peace" in 1870, where mothers would unite to promote disarmament.

The connection between Mother's Day and anti-war sentiment represents one of the most powerful Mother's Day traditions that has been largely forgotten. Ironically, this holiday born from pacifist ideals has transformed into one of the most commercially successful celebrations of the year.

Key Figure Contribution to Mother's Day Year

Ann Reeves Jarvis Created "Mother's Day Work Clubs" 1850s

Julia Ward Howe Proposed "Mother's Day for Peace" 1870

Anna Jarvis Campaigned for official Mother's Day Early 1900s

President Woodrow Wilson Signed Mother's Day proclamation 1914

The White Carnation: Symbol with a Forgotten Meaning

When exploring Mother's Day traditions, we can't overlook the significance of the white carnation. Anna Jarvis chose this flower as the emblem of Mother's Day for its symbolic qualities. She selected white carnations because they represented the purity and endurance of a mother's love. The tradition began when Jarvis delivered 500 white carnations to the first official Mother's Day service in Grafton, West Virginia.

Over time, the tradition evolved to differentiate between honoring living and deceased mothers: white carnations came to honor deceased mothers, while colored carnations celebrated living ones. This symbolic practice represents one of the most poignant Mother's Day facts that has faded from common knowledge. Today, while flowers remain central to Mother's Day celebrations, the specific symbolism of carnations and their colors has largely been forgotten as roses and other blooms have become more popular.

The Founder's Rejection of Commercialization

Perhaps the most ironic fact about Mother's Day is that its founder, Anna Jarvis, eventually came to despise what the holiday had become. By the 1920s, Jarvis was actively fighting against the commercialization of Mother's Day. She was arrested for disturbing the peace at a carnation sale fundraiser and spent her later years and inheritance campaigning against the holiday she had created.

Jarvis had envisioned Mother's Day as a deeply personal celebration where children would spend time writing heartfelt letters to their mothers expressing gratitude. The flourishing industry of pre-made cards, candy, and flowers seemed to her a corruption of the holiday's original intent. This stands as one of the most surprising Mother's Day facts: its creator became its most vocal critic.

Year Mother's Day Development Anna Jarvis's Response

1908 First official Mother's Day celebration Full support and organization

1914 National holiday declaration Initial satisfaction with recognition

1920s Growing commercialization Active opposition and protests

1940s Fully commercialized holiday Legal battles against commercialization

Global Variations: Mother's Day Around the World

While American Mother's Day traditions are widely known, it's fascinating to discover how this celebration varies across cultures. In Thailand, Mother's Day is celebrated on August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, who is regarded as the mother of the country. In Ethiopia, families gather for the Antrosht festival at the end of the rainy season, where daughters bring vegetables and cheese while sons contribute meat.

These international Mother's Day traditions highlight the universal importance of honoring maternal figures while showcasing unique cultural expressions. In Mexico and many Latin American countries, Mother's Day (Día de las Madres) is a fixed date on May 10 rather than the second Sunday in May, and typically involves serenades, special church services, and elaborate meals.

The Japanese celebration of Mother's Day, known as "Haha no Hi," became popular after World War II and originally involved giving carnations, similar to American traditions. However, it has evolved to include children drawing pictures of their mothers and helping with household chores as expressions of gratitude.

Preserving the True Meaning of Mother's Day

Understanding these surprising facts about Mother's Day traditions can help us reconnect with the holiday's deeper significance. While commercial aspects have become firmly established, we can still honor the original spirit of Mother's Day by incorporating more personal and meaningful gestures alongside purchased gifts.

The rich history of Mother's Day reminds us that this celebration has always been about expressing genuine gratitude and acknowledging the invaluable contributions mothers make to our lives and society. Whether through ancient ritual, religious observance, or modern celebration, honoring motherhood transcends time and culture.

As we approach another Mother's Day, perhaps we can take inspiration from its complex origins. We might write heartfelt letters as Anna Jarvis intended, contribute to peace and social justice causes in honor of its activist roots, or simply spend quality time creating memories with the maternal figures in our lives. In doing so, we can celebrate Mother's Day traditions in ways that are both personally meaningful and historically mindful.

TO READ MORE:

https://www.msmtimes.com/2025/05/The-Forgotten-History-5-Surprising-Facts-About-Mothers-Day-You-Never-Knew.html