It's hard to believe, but the videocassette recorder (VCR), which has become an important part of many lives, is 24 years old this week. The Sony Corporation released its VCR, the Betamax, which sold for $995 in 1975. Thursday is the anniversary of the day in 1943 when the ball-point pen (another staple of life these days) was patented by Hungarian Laszlo Biro. In many languages, the word for ball-point pen is "biro."

Monday is Family History Day. During your family reunions this summer, don't forget to share the stories and good recollections that bind us together!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

At Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. storytime, a firetruck, firefighters, and equipment from the Roswell Fire Department will be in the library's South parking lot to present a program about fire and fireworks safety. Saturday morning's 10:00 storytime will be a Juneteenth Celebration featuring stories, activities, displays, and crafts.

BOOK TALK

Here's a summary of new research findings on aging published in an article ("A New Look at Life - Wrinkles to the Rescue") published in the "ERA Update"

New research on aging is showing some reassuring results for all of us as we get older. For instance, as we age, we tend to "mellow out." In survey after survey, older people rate identical events as less stressful than younger people. Also, our love grows deeper. As we age, we become more secure in our marriage, family, and friendships.

In addition, we become more concerned about others. In a 1990 national study, 84% of Americans agreed that people become more compassionate at middle age. There's a strong potential for more involvement with community, church, and with social issues. And you become more motivated. Men reach the happiest stage of their lives in their sixties and women in their seventies.

Finally, we grow smarter. Although we can't change heredity or the fact that we lost some brain cells with age, neither of these facts has much bearing on whether we can improve. The more we expose ourselves to learning, the more the brain grows the necessary connective branches between brain cells to enable us to retain and apply our new knowledge. According to one study, "If you continue reading, thinking and creating all your life, the knowledge you gain improves intelligence through our 70's. Given enough time, you'll score better on intelligence tests as you age. The speed of reasoning and remembering may decrease, but not the quality."

DID YOU KNOW?

In the 1500's, most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hid the body odor.

Baths equaled a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all were the babies. By then, the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it, hence the saying: "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."