Page 14 - BoomertimesMay2021

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo From The May Cover
By Richard Lederer
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday commemorating the defeat of How’s Your Brain Doing?
the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Today, Cinco It’s Your Fault, Not Your Brain’s,
de Mayo (“5th of May”) is among the largest and most energetic
celebrations in the world. If It Isn’t Keeping Up With Your Memory
The recognition of Cinco de Mayo history quickly spread from Mexico By Anita Finley
to the United States, where it is primarily a celebration of the cultural
diversity of America’s southern neighbor. Cinco de Mayo parties
include plenty of specially prepared Mexican food—a good guacamole,
tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and plenty of Latin spices. The holiday is
usually an outdoor affair, and the pleasant spring weather is usually
perfect for firing up the grill and cooking some sizzling barbecued meat,
Mexican style.
Cinco de Mayo parties are often adorned with brightly colored
streamers and Mexican flags flapping in the wind. No Cinco de Mayo
bash is complete without a piñata, a decorated vessel, often made of
papier mâché, filled with candy, fruit, and gifts. Piñatas are hung up
for blindfolded people, usually children, to break open with sticks—the
perfect way to punctuate a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Here’s a punderful twist on the holiday:
In the early 1900s, Hellman’s Mayonnaise was manufactured in
England. In 1912, the company enlisted the Titanic to deliver 12,000 jars Peggy Katsopoulos, author of Kitchen Cures, Revolutionize Your
of the condiment to Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of Health With Foods That Heal, says in her book that if you drain your
call for the great ship after its stop in New York. brain, you will have a less than optimal memory. We all worry about
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever
delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to our getting Alzheimer’s, or some form of dementia, but what are we
New York. It struck an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. doing to prevent it, or at least minimize our memory loss?
The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were Another book I have just read is called simply, Remember, The Sci-
eagerly awaiting its delivery, were saddened by the loss. Their anguish ence of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, by Lisa Genova. Our brain
was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they can only do so much without our following certain rules and exercises.
still observe to this day—Sinko de Mayo. Both of these books are a must if you want to tackle your brain’s
To read this entire article, go to BoomerTimesFL.com. extraordinary and marvelous capabilities. Every thought, every move-
ment are all locked up into that active and vital gem we are born with.
Dr. Richard Lederer is the author of more than 50 How we care for it and use it is up to us. Yes, there is disease and
books about language, history and humor, including disabilities that we may not be able to prevent, but think about what
his newest books, “A Treasury of Halloween Humor”
and “A Treasury of Christmas Humor.” To order signed we can do to reach optimum vigor and vitality.
copies, explore his website, verbivore.com or write him I have become mesmerized by the brain and will be including each
Richard Lederer at richardhlederer@gmail.com. month in Boomer Times, a short piece of advice from experts, from
readers, and my own research.
To read this entire article, go to BoomerTimesFL.com.
$10 Winner of “Who Are They?” Contest
from April 2021

The correct answers this month are Cynthia Meacham from Senior
Services of North America and Lea Hope Becker, Author.
We can only choose one lucky winner, so congratulations to Myrna
Bramson from Miami Shores who correctly answered the question and
is the winner of $10.
Other entries received were: Peter Zambito, Deerfield Beach; Betty
Graydon, Pembroke Pines; Alice Dressler, Hollywood; Bernice Hoffer,
Boynton Beach; David Polansky, Hollywood; Doreen Breckel, West
Palm Beach; Barbara Chasteen, North Miami Beach; Patricia Delvalle,
Pembroke Pines; Nancy Gomes, Miami; Jules Martin, Hollywood; Dody
Katz, Fort Lauderdale; Carol Ravikoff, Coconut Grove; Karin Stahl,
North Miami; Isabel Diaz, Miami Lakes; Sharon Spiwak, Tamarac;
Sandra Sharp, Miami Beach; Mark Richmond, Davie; Bernie Petak,
Plantation; Gayle Remer, Pompano Beach; Goldie Hill, Hollywood;
Betty Novas, Miami; Marva Lightbourne, Miami; Edward M. Morin,
Hollywood; Joan Saunders, Sunrise; Steven I. Agran, Hollywood;
Marvin Zubisky, Sunny Isles Beach; Serena Reppert, Miami; Katherine
McDonough, Pembroke Pines.
14 / BoomerTimes & SeniorLife BoomerTimesFL.com MAY 2021