Sweet September
In the northern hemisphere, this meteorological season begins September 1.
What is autumn (or fall)? Meteorological fall is based on the calendar. Astronomical
fall, or what we might call the season of fall, begins on the fall equinox, when day and night
are equal in length.
You’ll trade your bagels for freshly baked giant croissants when you visit this country.
What is France? Visitors delight in the wide variety of French pastries: gougères,
bite-sized pastry puffs filled with cheese, eclairs, and many more.
We “wonder” if you know this first name of the Motown
artist known for hits like “Superstition.”
What is Stevie (Wonder)? During the ’70s, Stevie Wonder
won 12 total Grammy Awards.
These beloved dolls of the 1980s weren’t bought; they were adopted, complete with a certificate for their new family.
What are Cabbage Patch dolls? They were based on creator Xavier Roberts’
needle molding techniques and soft sculptures.
This is the shape of a stop sign.
What is an octagon? Globally, many stop signs are red with white lettering on an
octagon sign. However, there are exceptions: In Hawaii, there is a stop sign near
Diamond Head that has a blue background and white lettering.
When we were in school, this event took place on the first Tuesday of September in
many states.
What is first day of the school year? Now, school starts as early as July in states
such as New Mexico.
Pack your bags for Peru to visit this place, the ruins of the Inca Empire.
What is Machu Picchu? High in the Andes Mountains, it is
believed that this agricultural civilization housed between 300 and
1,000 people 600 years ago.
This “rocket man” sounds like he has two first names, but
John is his surname.
Who is Elton (John)? He released 12 studio albums during
the ’70s—that’s more than one per year!
This popular doll from the 1960s and ’70s inspired spinoffs like Chatty Baby and
Singin’ Chatty.
What is Chatty Cathy? She is considered the first successful talking doll and could
say 11 phrases, such as “Please brush my hair.”
This is the typical emotion signified by a red rose.
What is love? White roses are often used to express sympathy.
September is the month the playoffs begin and lead to this sport’s grand finale.
What is baseball? The championship series in Major League Baseball is the World Series.
Roughly 40 miles from Naples, you can explore this fabled
Italian coastline.
What is the Amalfi Coast? Walk along the Terrace of Infinity, spend a day on the
beach, visit the ceramic shops along Corso Umberto, and stroll along Sentiero dei Limoni,
or “The Path of Lemons.” Amalfi is world-renowned for its lemons; must-haves include its
lemonade and lemon desserts.
Surnames in a popular ’70s band were May, Taylor, Mercury, and Deacon, but this is
the first name of the singer.
What is Freddie (Mercury)? Formed in London in 1970, Queen was helmed by
Freddie Mercury through two decades of superstardom.
This line of colorful dolls, including Wisp and Starlite, was created by Hallmark in the 1980s and grew into an animated TV series and a 1985 movie.
What are Rainbow Brite dolls? The dolls were created to rival American Greetings’
Strawberry Shortcake line.
When wearing a man’s shirt, the buttons are on this side.
What is right? Women’s shirts have buttons on the left side. There is no definitive
reason for this. However, it might date back to the Victorian era, when wealthy
women had dressers. Since most people are right-handed, it is believed that
dressers had an easier time if the buttons were on the left. Men dressed
themselves more than women did, so their buttons were on the right.
On September 21, 1967, taping began for this famous children’s TV program, in
which every episode begins with the host singing “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
What is Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? The iconic show
features host Fred Rogers and his many friends, including Mr. McFeely,
Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and a red trolley.
In Verona, Italy, visitors gather at a medieval house linked by legend to this
Shakespearean heroine, leaving notes near the balcony and wall that now bear her name.
Who is Juliet? If you post a note to Juliet at Verona’s Casa di Giulietta, volunteers
will reply to you in her name.
This is the first name of the “Godfather of Soul” whose song “The Payback” hit No. 1
on the R&B charts in 1974.
Who is James (Brown)? He was one of the first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees
in 1986.
These dolls were invented when a father made his daughter a dollhouse inside an old makeup compact.
What are Polly Pockets? Introduced in 1989, the
original dolls stood less than an inch high, though a 1998
redesign introduced larger, more poseable dolls.
The deepest point of Earth’s surface is located in this ocean.
What is the Pacific Ocean? Known as Challenger Deep, it is nearly seven miles
deep and is located in the Mariana Trench near the Mariana Islands.
These medium-hot, protein-on-a-platter snacks make their
way into many a Sunday football gathering.
What are (buffalo) chicken wings? The traditional version of the chicken wing platter
is served with blue cheese dipping sauce to tame the heat and add another layer of flavor.
In the ancient abandoned city of Petra in this country, you
will find buildings carved exquisitely into rose-colored sandstone.
What is Jordan? The most breathtaking edifice is
the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), and nearby is the massive Petra
Amphitheater. Visiting the site requires hiking on steep terrain.
For the fit, this is a site not to be missed.
Born with the surname Jones, this artist changed it to Bowie when he found “Fame”
and his songs began playing “Station to Station.”
Who is David (Bowie)? Bowie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Introduced in 1986 and still popular today, this line of dolls from historic eras, each
with an accompanying book and backstory, includes Molly McIntire from the World War II era.
What are American Girl dolls? The original three dolls were Samantha, Kirsten,
and Molly, and each taught girls about a part of American history.
The Statue of Liberty holds this in her left hand.
What is a tablet? The tablet is inscribed July 4, 1776, the date America declared its
independence.