April 26, 2020 has arrived. It came at the stroke of midnight while we were asleep and will quietly slide into the past at midnight tonight. That’s the way time works or at least that is how I perceive it. I stay in place while time moves. Today is Get Organized Day, Audubon Day, Hug A Friend Day (not a good idea right now to be hugging friends), World Intellectual Property Day and National Pretzel Day. There’s more but they’re even less celebratory than these are. I’ll try and organize my desk and maybe eat a pretzel. Now lets look at some history footnotes: On this day in 1859 Dan Sickles is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity – 1st time this defense used successfully in the US. Dan shot his wife’s lover in broad daylight across the street from the White House. This is when the term “crime of passion” is used as a defense. This is the date in 1933 that Jewish students are barred from school in Germany. Think about that for a second. Finally, this is the day in 1954 that mass trials of Jonas Salk’s anti-polio vaccine begins. More than 443,000 children receive shots over three months. Today is the birthday (121) of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome. He said, “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” That’s what I’ve been saying too. This is the day in 1989 that Lucille Ball dies at the age of 78. Lucille said, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” Good point. That’s it for another day. Be careful. Stay safe and Abide.
