We’ve now moved into the time/space of February 10, 2020. It feels like we’re moving faster though this year. We’re not. We still moving at the same speed we were last year or a million years ago for that matter. I guess if you’re busy, having fun, trying to squeeze happiness out of every day of life that time seems to go faster. Here is the list of things to celebrate today: National Cream Cheese Brownie Day, National Flannel Day, Umbrella Day, Teddy Bear Day, and Oatmeal Monday. Don’t need an umbrella or flannel today. I’ll go with brownies. Yum. Now to the history of this date. On this day in 1535 40 Anabaptists ran naked through the streets of Amsterdam. This non-violent protest the dominant religion that was in bed with the wealthy and the city government and not caring for the poor in the way Bible directed Jesus-followers to. In 1897 the NY Times begins using slogan “All the News That’s Fit to Print”. In 1916 the biggest gusher ever shoots oil 600 feet in the air near Tampico, Mexico. In 1940 the “Tom & Jerry” cartoon is shown for the first time. In 1945, which is the year I was born, “Rum & Coca Cola” by Andrews Sisters hits #1. Finally, in 1954 on this date, President Eisenhower warns against US intervention in Vietnam. He said, “This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.” Did you know that we spend more on the military than the next 10 largest countries put together? We do. This date is the birthday (1775) of Charles Lamb who was a British writer. Here are a couple of his quotes, “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.” and “I’d like to grow very old as slowly as possible.” Me too Charles, me too. This is also the date in 2005 that Arthur Miller (think Death of a Salesmen) died at the age of 89. He said, “Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.” My quote is “May our Glad I Dids be many and our Wish I Hads be few.” With that, I’ll begin to live this day. Abide.
