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Median Household Income was $19,074 in current dollars.
Unemployment was 7.6% of a population of 229,465,714.
AIDS was identified.
The Super Bowl was still held in January, with Oakland defeating Philadelphia 27-10.

This was not included last month: President Reagan was sworn in January 20 and the same day, the US.-Iran agreement freed 52 hostages held in Teheran since 1979. They were welcomed home on Jan 25.

POLITICS IN 1981

Pertinent to today’s news, Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman sworn in on the Supreme Court on March 30, nominated by President Reagan. The Supreme Court also ruled to allow TV cameras into the courtroom.

IBM introduced its first personal computer, running on the Microsoft DOS operating system. Personal computer then meant a computer that was self-contained. Computers used to be the screen on your desk, with the functioning part on a big mainframe in another room. This was after Radio Shack, or Tandy, had presented it’s TRS-80 computer which was nicknamed the “Trash 80". Shortly after this is when I learned the software at Radio Shack on the TRS-80 that began my secretarial career.

About 6:30 in the morning of February 9, 1981, Wild Bill Haley died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack at his home in Harlingen, Texas.

I was in high school in the 1950's and danced live to Wild Bill Haley. Sounds unbelievable? He came from nearby Pennsylvania. Every Friday night those of us who love to dance went to St. Elizabeth’s High School in Wilmington, Delaware to dance to Bill Haley and the Comets in real life. We still jitterbugged then, and the more partners the better. Everybody who went to St. Elizabeth’s on Friday night loved to dance, were good dancers and went with friends, not a date, so we could dance with as many partners as possible.

Bill Haley began as a cowboy singer, but while at Decca Records fell under the influence of Milt Gabler who convinced Haley to change his sound. That change would be evident with the recording of “Rock Around the Clock,” the song that introduced Rock & Roll to white America. “Rock Around the Clock” was a modest hit until it was used as the title track of “The Blackboard Jungle”, a movie about juvenile delinquents. He next recorded Joe Turner's “Shake, Rattle and Roll” that was the first Rock & Roll record to sell a million copies. The next really big hit came with “See You Later Alligator” which sold a million copies within a month. Do you remember these? Did you dance to them? Most of you are probably not old enough to even remember him.

Jupiter and Saturn were conjunct (together or married) in the sign of Libra. There were dire predictions, saying that every 20 years this conjunction signifies destruction, change and assassinations of American presidents. President Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981. The drastic change from that conjunction in the sign of relationships turned out to be the change of marriage as society had known it. Many younger women had good jobs, with a future of working, so different from their mothers, who were expected to stay home and raise the children. With good jobs, the younger women had an income of their own and felt they did not have to put up with what they thought was ill treatment from their spouses, and left their marriages. This changed society, with easier divorces, children living between spouses, multiple sets of grandparents and child care. Pluto was also in the sign of Libra. Pluto destroys to renew. Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in the sign of marriage was certainly a strong symbol of the changes that came about regarding marriage and partnership.

Back in 1981, I was working as a secretary at the DuPont Company in Wilmington shortly after the time of the largest merger in history (at that time) when DuPont acquired Conoco for $7.9 Billion. When the dust settled it turned out that Seagram’s owned a large part of the combined DuPont/Conoco company. The culture of “The Company” changed forever. Gone was being employed by The Company until one retired. Now there were large, frequent firings, layoffs and buy-outs. As a result, employee loyalty was gone forever, too. Since one would not know from one day to the next if you would be asked to empty your desk and be walked to the gate at a moment’s (literally) notice, people started looking for jobs at other companies and starting their own businesses. Thus began the pattern of working for several different companies during one’s lifetime.

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He was executed on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. It seems Emperor Claudius had outlawed marriage to attract more men into the army. Valentine defied the emperor by secretly marrying couples, thereby incurring Claudius’ wrath. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their lover would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week.

What will Valentine’s Day be like this year?

Valentine’s Day is always in the sign of Aquarius, the sign of friends and freedom. The Moon is in Virgo on Valentine’s Day, the sign of cleanliness, thrift, detail and crafts. Perfectly crafted relatively inexpensive gifts, in addition to flowers and chocolate of course, are appreciated. Venus, the planet of love, is in the work sign of Capricorn, so your loved one may have to stay at work longer, do not take it personally. A good day to end with romance, with an opportunity for a combination of intimacy and friendship, a delicate balance. The only caution is be careful of over-control and stubbornness. One of you may be more in need of coaxing for romance, but gentle persistence pays off. Love today is quietly sensual, gentle and fulfilling. even though it is thought Valentine's Day is only for her, men just love to receive flowers and gifts of love and appreciation.

In celebration of my 25 year silver anniversary, and since February is lover’s month, the new offering is two lover’s reports. One is personally for you and your significant other. About fifteen pages of accurate interpretation of how you relate in love. This requires the birth date and place of each of you, and the time of both if available. $27 US.

The second report is a simple, quick look-up on one page of what to expect of others, according to your sign. When you order, please include your own sign so it is personal for you. $9 US.

Both reports can be e-mailed to you in Adobe Acrobat Reader .pdf format.

Order from Patty by Email. Please include your name, address for mailing and your email to verify your order. Please include your credit card number, including the last three numbers on the back of your card and the address where the bill goes. All credit card information is strictly confidential and is kept in a safe place not on the computer.

If you are nervous ordering via e-mail, call Patty at (302) 378-0579. Thank you.

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