This is the 9th Day of October 2021. I review each day what I wrote last year. 2020 was a tough year and I’m glad it’s gone. 2021 is a much better. There are still things that we can complain about but there will always be things to complain about. If you enjoy being in state of constant agitation and like to think of yourself as a victim, life gives you plenty of opportunities every day. That’s not the way I intend to spend the remaining days of my life. As best I can, I will follow the advice of the Monty Python song and, “Always look on the bright side of life.” Today we have a fine list of possible party ideas: It’s Leif Erickson Day, National Chess Day, National kids Bowl Free Day, Beer And Pizza Day, Fire Prevention Day, National Moldy Cheese Day, National Sneakers Day, and Submarine-Hoagie-Hero-Grinder Day. What a great list to choose from. I’ll go with beer and pizza. Now onto the history of today. On or about this day in the year 1000, Leif Erickson discovered “Vinland” and reputedly became the first European to reach North America. In the year 1290 on this day, the last of 16,000 Jews were expelled and left England. This is the day in 1824 that slavery was abolished in Costa Rica. This is the day in 1941 that Franklin D. Roosevelt approved an atomic program that would become the Manhattan Project. And, on this day in 1963 hurricane Flora hit Cuba and Haiti and killed 6,000. Today is John Lennon’s birthday. I am a fan. These are several of his quotes I like: “When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” “The more I see, the less I know for sure.” I’ll end this post with a lyric from one of his songs: “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one”. Abide.
