Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

• 2 • The Pinecone | February 2021 ON THE PINECONE COVER Happy Valentine’s Day! Just when you thought it was time to put away your favorite red sweater or neck tie, it’s time to wear red again. However, this time while you’ll be eating chocolate instead of peppermint candy. In fact, we can now begin to consume all the chocolate candy we want to without the fear that someone might scold us for ruining our appetite before dinner. After all, they too could be discovered hovering over a box of chocolate. Just be sure to wipe your fingers before putting on your face mask or addressing Valentine cards to your loved ones and friends. Speaking of cards, you can find some beautiful Valentines cards in the Blossom Shop among the shelves. Did you know that Valentines cards were first mass-produced in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1847 by Ester Howland? Ester took her inspiration from an English valentine she received, and created valentines of embossed paper lace, which her father sold in his book and stationery store. Her valentines were meant to be given to “one’s true love”, and for many years in the United States these were the only individuals that exchanged valentines. Then early in the twentieth century, valentine cards beganbeingexchangedamongextended It 's Valentine Time a t K i r b y P i n e s Michael Escamilla, Executive Director, Kirby Pines Feeling the Love at Kirby Pines Kirby Pines Retirement LifeCare is managed by: BOARD OF D I R ECTOR S Dr. James Latimer, Chairman Mr. Rudy Herzke, President Mr. Berry Terry, Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Larry Braughton Rev. Richard Coons Mr. Jim Ethridge Ms. Linda Harrington Ms. Mary Ann Hodges Mr. Rusty Linkous Mr. Boyd Rhodes, Jr. RCA S TA F F Charlie Trammell President, RCA Michélle Vincent Senior Vice President, RCA Tim Cox Senior Vice President of Finance, RCA Laura Cornwell Vice President of Finance, RCA Stephanie Barrow Director of Sales & Marketing K I RBY P I NE S S TA F F Michael Escamilla Executive Director, Kirby Pines Annette Marlar Director of Medical Services and HR Mike Abutineh, M.D. Medical Director Anna Bradford Nursing Home/Assisted Living Administrator Linda Huston Director of Accounting Don Johnson Chaplain Chuck Neeley Director of Maintenance Mike Rayder Director of Grounds & Landscaping Jada Mullins Director of Environmental Services Calvin Sims Director of Security Alisa Stokes Director of Transportation This magazine is produced by RCA 6465 N. Quail Hollow Rd., Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120, 901-794-2598 Electronic version of The Pinecone is available at www.kirbypines.com February is here, and though it is still quite cold outside, things tend to heat up with a variety of happenings during the month. February 2nd is Groundhog Day, where we find out how many weeks until spring. February 7th is Superbowl Sunday with this year's contest featuring the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. February 15th is President's Day and February 16th is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, a day to live it up before Lent begins. Of course, the hottest day in February is the 14th, or Valentine's Day. This is the day we tell those near and dear to us that we love them. Our spouses and partners, our children, our friends, our pets, our siblings and our caregiv- ers. Make sure you let those special people in your life know how much they truly are loved. Speaking of love, we turn to our special cov- er spread (make sure to open front and back together), featuring Paula and Chuck Hanson. family members and soon afterwards among friends. By the middle of the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of giving cards was extended to include small gifts. Such gift typically included roses and chocolates and soon there after an occasional piece of jewelry was added to the list of gifts identified with Valentine’s Day. Now Valentine’s Day is associated with the generic platonic greeting of “Happy Valentine’s Day”. This Valentines’, whether you are receiving or giving cards or flowers, I hope my small gesture of wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day, will bring a smile to your heart. Now, let’s find some chocolate to eat. This wonderful couple have been mar- ried 58 years and could not be any cuter together. They met us in midtown by the I Love Memphis mural and were such great sports as we repeatedly asked them to "squeeze and smile". The results speak for themselves and the love they share. Chuck & Paula Hanson in midtown Memphis