Benefits of Old Wives’ Tales Are Questionable

Sugar Grove

By Paula Mitchell

There is something to be said about the old wives’ tales.  These forms of wisdom have been passed from generation to generation. The tales were usually told to discourage some behavior of children whose health could be damaged by doing them. The tales are usually superstitious and not supported by science. They tended to be short and sweet; therefore, easy to remember.  Here are some wives’ tales that are not supported with scientific backing.

• Wait an hour after eating to go swimming or a person will get cramps and drown.  (There is no medical reason for this.)
• If a person handles or touches a toad, one will get warts. (This myth arises from the fact that toads look as if they have warts on their bodies.)
• Sitting too close to the TV will ruin one’s eyes. (One can get tired eyes by watching anything too intently, but damage to the eyes will not happen.)
• Don’t cross one’s eyes or they may stay that way.  (There is no evidence that a person’s eyes will remain crossed.)
• Don’t swallow gum, as it takes 7 years to digest. (Scans of the stomach or intestines have not shown masses of undigested gum.)
• If one pulls out a white or gray hair, two will replace it. (The follicle can only produce one new hair, no matter if it is white or gray.)
• Eating cheese before bed gives a person nightmares. (Maybe.)
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  (All fruits have nutrition and have health benefits.)
• Cracking the knuckles will give one arthritis or make one’s knuckles bigger. (Partly true.)
• Drinking coffee will stunt one’s growth.  (False, genetics determines growth.)
• If a person makes a silly face, one’s face will remain that way permanently. (False.  A person controls their muscles which will then return to their normal position.)

Some of these tales have been around for centuries.  In the King James Bible, Paul warned Timothy to beware of “old wives’ tales.”

Life’s instructions for the betterment of one’s day include the following:

1. Live life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
2. Never refuse homemade brownies.
3. Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
4. Compliment three people every day.
5. Let the person behind a person go ahead in the checkout line.

This week’s quotes are as follows:

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn

“It has always been easy to hate and destroy.  To build and to cherish is much more difficult.” — Queen Elizabeth

“If you spend too much time thinking about one thing you never achieve anything.” — Bruce Lee

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” — Albert Einstein

“The meaning of life is to find your gift.  The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Pablo Picasso

 Life is so much better, sitting on the swing on the front porch:

Jerry and Gloria Facemyer of Hendersonville, North Carolina, spent several days in the home of Willard and Judy Rader and enjoyed the Treasure Mountain Festival.

Rose Smith of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, was a Wednesday night guest of Phil Downs.  Coming to attend the Treasure Mountain Festival were Tara Kelley and a high school friend, Lera , both of Springfield, Virginia.  

The Treasure Mountain Festival was a reunion of sorts on a weekend of beautiful weather.  One could not have ordered any better weather for the occasion.  The Sugar Grove Lions Club served up their ham sandwiches, beans and cornbread to a host of folks, many of whom return annually.  The winners of the raffles were as follows: model 22 gun – Richard Thomas, shot gun – Roger Shrewsberry, model 94 – Daniel Rickard and comforter – Victor Jackson.  

Visiting with Rosalee Grogg were Marleta Wimer, Steven Grogg, Asher Mauzy and Madison Grogg.  

Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers as are follows:

• The queue to pay respect for the Queen reached as much as 10 miles.
• The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.
• Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals.
• Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver. 
• The University of Alaska spans four time zones.
• A comet’s tail always points away from the sun.

Concerns for this week are many, and they are as follows: Charles Anderson, Lannie Arbaugh, the Athey family, Lynn Beatty, Jack Bennett, Bill Brackman,  Ralph Dunkle, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, Ron Gilkeson, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman,  Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, Gary and Jackie Hills, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlie Marie Hoover, Keith Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Enos Horst, Doris Hull,  Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Melissa Lambert, Robin and Kitty Lambert, Robert Lambert,  Rex Landis, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm,  Betty Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael,  Gloria Moats, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan,  Aaron Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson,  Bennie Nesselrodt, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack,  Alda Propst, Betty Lou Propst,  Kathy Propst, Sheldon Propst, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Barbara Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Robbie Sites, Ona Smith, Stanna Smith,  Patricia Swecker, Rosa Tichenor,  Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Ron White, Judy Williams and Larry Wimer.