On February 8 in 1950, a Wednesday, Karen Lynn Bailey was born in Ogden, Utah. She was the fourth daughter of Marge and Monte. Monte was a teacher and excellent coach. No surprise Karen learned how to play tennis, golf, swim, cheerlead and be the athlete a coach would dream about. Marge managed the Chamber of Commerce, raised the girls, was the nicest person you could meet and belied the Mother in Law image. Karen learned to cook, sew, knit, paint the rentals, and has reasonable dance skills. Until the grandson and the grand girls arrived she was most proud of our daughters, who remain close to her to this day. We have been best friends most of the last 49 years. You may be thinking that relationship calls her judgement into question – reasonable issue. Remember, we took vows, “for better or worse.” Please join me in wishing Karen a happy 71st, still in her prime and its not just a number.
We have multiple unique stargazing events to watch in 2021 according to National Geographic. On February 11, just a few days after we celebrate Karen’s b-day we will have a visually close encounter between two of the brightest planets in our skies: Venus and Jupiter. Both planets will appear as brilliant dots to the naked eye, with the bonus of Saturn drifting to the upper right in the dawn sky. Timing is everything, an unobstructed view just before the sun rises and blocks out the planets view, will give you a memorable experience. On March 9, there will be an impressive cosmic huddle as four heavenly bodies will appear in nearly perfect alignment. Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn will be in a line across the night sky flanked by a crescent moon. Grab your telescope as you will be able to see Jupiter’s four largest moons as well as Saturn’s rings. The Blood moon returns in May and parts of the world will see a total lunar eclipse. The dust in the Earth’s atmosphere refracts the suns rays creating a red hue to the moon. It also is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius – which I thought happened in 1969, when the Fifth Dimension sang Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In from the musical HAIR. The song suggest an astrological solution to so many of our current problems, ask Alexa to play it for you.
2021 is going to be a good year. We have survived an insurrection, sent Marjorie Taylor Greene a meaningful message, and may convict Former Fearless Leader in the Senate and bar him from ever holding office again. Vaccination of America is underway and Science seems to have begun a comeback. We have selfless leadership in the White House and the Cabinet.
Rich Hall left this mortal coil in 2020–gone but not forgotten-join me in a toast to our dear departed friend!! He preferred Chardonnay.
Keep wearing those masks and following the guidelines, we may have the virus on the run. Mike