We are moving closer and closer to 2020. It’s already December 14th. The rain front moved through a few hours ago around (2 AM). I know because the weather alarm started waking up the dead to tell us about a new tornado warning issued for somewhere else. Most nights I get plenty of rest; some nights, not so much. But, I’m fine because it’s Gingerbread Decorating Day, Monkey Day, International Shareware Day, Roast Chestnuts Day and National Bouillabaisse Day. My pick is Bouillabaisse or fish stew in a tomato sauce. It’s my favorite fish dish. Onto the history of this date: In 1542 Princess Mary Stuart succeeds her father James V and becomes Queen Mary I of Scotland at 6 days old. I know a little bit of the history of Mary Queen of Scots. After being held in custody for the last 18.5 years of her life, they cut off her head. In 1793, the 1st state road authorized. It was between Frankfort, Kentucky and Cincinnati. In 1812, the French invasion of Russia, led by Napoleon, officially ends with the French having lost as many as 530,000 people. In 1915 Jack Johnson is the 1st black world heavyweight boxing champion. In 1947 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida. Finally, in 1969 “Leaving on a Jet Plane” single sung by Peter, Paul and Mary, written by John Denver is No. 1 on US Billboard’s Hot Top 100. This is the birthday of Jimmy Doolittle l who conducted the air raid on Tokyo in 1942. He said “you can’t lose a war if you have command of the air”. To be fair, he never tried to go to war with the people who live in Afghanistan. This is the date in 1799 that George Washington dies at the age of 66. He said “My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.” I’ve jumped all over the place today, as I do most days. Every morning I open a door looking into a brand new day. It’s fun to start my day this way. With that high note, I’ll get into the rest of it. Abide.
