The celestial clock has moved one notch and now rests in April 17, 2020. I’m sure it will be very similar to the 16th because of social distancing but different too. The Commission has provided a comprehensive list of celebratory events. Here we go: It’s Bat Appreciation Day, Blah, Blah, Blah Day, Ellis Island Family History Day, International Ford Mustang Day, National Cheeseball Day, National Kickball Day, International Haiku Poetry Day, Malbec World Day and There’s Nothing Like A Dame Day. My pick of this liter is Haiku Day which is a Japanese style of poetry with three lines, no rhymes and 5-7-5 syllables. I’ll end this post with one. Now to history: On this day in 1492 Columbus signs a contract with the Spanish monarchs to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found, and the governorship of any lands encountered. In 1907 Ellis Island processes a record number of immigrants: 11,745. This is the date in 1961 that 1,400 Cuban exiles land in Bay of Pigs in a doomed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. Today is the birthday (1837) of the banker, J.P. Morgan who said, “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.” This is also the day in 1790 that Benjamin Franklin died at the age of 84. He said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” That quote has been one of my guiding principals in life. Now back to the Haiku.
Rum, you are my friend
You help relieve the boredom
Time to dance again
Stay safe, wash those hands and Abide.
