It’s the time/space of January 28, 2020. So are, it’s a pretty good day. A typical winter day in Central Florida with no clouds and temperature in the upper 60s. Shorts, t shirts and flip flops kind of day. All you need is a positive attitude, a few friends and some rum to make this day special. I have all three. Today is Daisy Day, International Lego Day, Pop Art Day, National Kazoo Day, National Blueberry Pancake Day, National Plan A Vacation Day and Rattlesnake Roundup Day. I don’t happen to be afraid of snakes, but I don’t round them up either. I’ll take blueberry pancakes and in fact, I’ll make some for breakfast. Sounds like a plan. Now let’s dust off the history books. In 1671, British pirate Henry Morgan captures Panama City from its Spanish defenders. I don’t expect most of you to know much about Mr. Morgan. Captain Henry Morgan was basically Jack Sparrow if Jack Sparrow were cooler. While most pirates ended up swinging from a rope, Henry Morgan ended his career as a Lt. Governor. Moving on. In 1813 Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is published. I looked up her quotes and they give you an insight into a women’s place in society at this time. She said, “A woman, especially, if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.” Times have changed and that’s a good thing. In 1887 in a snowstorm at Fort Keogh, Montana, the world’s largest snowflakes are reported, being 15 inches (38 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) thick. Wow! In 1932 the 1st US state unemployment insurance act was enacted in Wisconsin. In 1948 a plane crash in the Diablo mountains kills 28 bracero farm workers being sent back to Mexico, inspiring Woodie Guthrie’s song “Deportee”. John McCutcheon’s tells the story and sings Woodie’s song. It’s 11 minutes long but worth your time. It’s a great story. I’ll end this post with a quote from Woodie, “Life has got a habit of not standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it. If a day goes by that don’t change some of your old notions for new ones, that is just about like trying to milk a dead cow.” Have an excellent day. Abide
