The rock we live on has now reached the 1.6 million miles designated as March 11, 2020. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we’re flying through space that fast, on a big rock, with a thin atmosphere. Life is reason enough to celebrate each new day. The Commission has designated today as Debunking Day (should be every day), Dream Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, No Smoking Day and Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day. Since we swim in an ocean of false claims, half truths and outright lies, I’m going with Debunking Day. It would be helpful if we all had the same set of facts. Moving on. The history of this date doesn’t have a lot of interesting stuff. This is the date of the Great Blizzard of 1888. It was one of the worst storms in American History killing over 400 people. It produced 50 foot snow drifts in some places. It was also referred to as “Great White Hurricane”. In 1968 Otis Redding is the first person to posthumously receive gold record for his single “Sittin‘ On the Dock of the Bay”. Finally, in 1997, Paul McCartney is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. This is the birthday (1952) of Douglas Adams, who wrote “Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” He said, “I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.” I’ve had that feeling more than once in my life. This is also the day that Alexander Fleming, the biologist who invented penicillin died at the age of 73. He saved my life more than once. He said, “One sometimes finds what one is not looking for.” That’s enough for this new day. Wash those hands and be sure to Abide.
