Oh pshaw, on Thu 19 Oct 2006 08:46:12a, Puester meant to say...

> Lou Decruss wrote:
>> The weekend sale flyer from one of the big local chains came
>> yesterday. The front page says "Sweetest Day Savings!" The top left
>> has a nice picture of a dozen roses, and right smack in the middle is
>> the picture of asparagus!! What were they thinking? Of all the days
>> of the year, Sweetest Day would be the last one I'd serve that. This
>> is a 20 page flyer and they could have put chocolate or wine or
>> anything other than asparagus on the front page. Someone should be
>> fired! Sheesch.
>>
>> Lou
>
>
> 1. Sweetest Day is a fake holiday to provide merchants with an extra day
> to guilt people into giving gifts. Gifts given because of commercial
> hype aren't worth giving or receiving.

The first I'd ever heard of Sweetest Day was after we moved to Cleveland,
Ohio, where it originated. Fake holiday? Perhaps, but its original intent
was not altogdther with commercial interest...

"Observed the 3rd Saturday in the month of October, Sweetest Day observance
originated in Cleveland in 1922. Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist
and candy company employee wanted to bring happiness into the lives of
orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the help of friends,
he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.

On the first Sweetest Day, movie star Ann Pennington presented 2,200
Cleveland newspaper boys with boxes of candy to express gratitude for their
service to the public.

Another popular movie star, Theda Bara, distributed 10,000 boxes of candy
to people in Cleveland hospitals and also gave candy to all who came to
watch her film in a local theater.

Primarily a regional observance celebrated in the Great Lakes region and
the Northeast, Sweetest Day is gradually spreading to other areas of the
country. People tend to take the Sweetest Day tradition with them when they
move. Ohio is the top state for Sweetest Day sales, followed by Michigan
and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida are among the top 10 states in
sales."

At some point in time following, American Greetings Company, headquartered
in Cleveland, began producing the first Sweetest Day cards.

> 2. Asparagus is a delicacy and lots healthier than chocolate.

A local farm market now has asparagus at $1/lb. I bought several pounds
last Saturday.

> Fired? Get a grip.

Yes, a bit extreme. :-)

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

'Happy.' -Sanzip Raphael (1483-1520), Italian
painter, last word