YOU KNOW YOU'RE OLD WHEN...

by Rose-Mary Rumbley

You know you're old when you remember the OLD FARMERS ALMANAC. Actually, you can be young and remember the OLD FARMERS ALMANAC, because it is a very, very useful periodical...very current--still in publication! My interest in the Almanac began in 1992, when I was giving many speeches and was always searching for a topic that would interest my varied audiences. I read where the OLD FARMERS ALMANAC was 200 years old, oldest continuing publication in the USA, beginning in 1792. Would this be a "catchy" topic? YES! So I announced, "This year I will be speaking about THE OLD FARMERS ALMANAC." Some of my folks said, "Are you sure about this? We're city people!" I responded, TRUST ME! YOU'LL LIKE IT!" And they did!

A farmer in Dublin, New Hampshire, Robert B. Thomas, decided that he would share his "farming" knowledge with his neighbors, so in his barn in 1792 he began to write and print a booklet which he named THE FARMERS ALMANAC. "Old" was added to the name later. He stated in the first issue, "We must strive always to be useful, with a pleasant degree of humor."

I went to Dublin, New Hampshire, to meet the editor, Judson Hale, a great guy who ran the office all by himself. He could do this, because the almanac has only one deadline since it comes out only once a year!

There are writers who contribute to the almanac, but Mr. Hale is the only one on staff. He is everything--writer, editor, publisher.

The almanac claims the weather is correctly predicted, because the "sun spots" are studied as Robert B. Thomas directed over 200 years ago. Besides predicting the weather, the almanac will tell you the best day to cut and color your hair, when to sell your home and move, when to get married, when to stop smoking. There are remedies for all sorts of illnesses, Truly, there is no end to needed information.

The current issue tells of the mild winter we are going to experience along with a mild summer to come.

Along with the information, the almanac offers an essay contest, with the first winner receiving $300. And too, there are many funny stories to read!

I suggest you go out and buy THE OLD FARMERS AMANAC today!