This 24 hour period is June 24 2020. Not much has changed from yesterday making it difficult to make this day a memorable one. Not as many options as I would like. In Florida, the virus continues to spread as I continue to social distance. Better to be safe. If I were 40 years younger, I’d probably have a different attitude. I will do my best to play the hand I’ve been dealt. Today is Give Your Neighbor A Bottle Of Rum Day (I made that up). It’s also International Fairy Day, Museum Comes To Life Day, National Parchment Day, Swim A Lap Day, National UFO Day and National Pralines Day. Now to the odd footnotes of history. On this day in 1374 a sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion. Wow. I looked up “St. John’s Dance”, sometimes referred to as the “Dancing Plague” and it went on for several hundred years. This is the day in 1861 that Tennessee becomes 11th (& last) state to secede from Union. This is the day in 1901 that Pablo Picasso has his 1st exhibition in Paris. He was 19 years old. And this is the day in 1992 that Billy Joel gets an honorary diploma from Hicksville High School at 43. He never graduated because he was playing a late night gig and missed a required English exam. This is the day in 1842 that Ambrose Bierce, American writer and satirist began his life. Ambrose said, “Bigot: One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.” I think Facebook shows us that his quote is accurate. This is the day in 1908 that Grover Cleveland, who was the 22nd and 24th President stopped living. Grover said, “The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.” I guess there was some polarization back then too. Now, do whatever floats your boat today but try and do it safely. Abide.
