We have just passed the 10.22.2020 milepost on this highway. If we were driving this road in a movie it would be dark, raining with the appropriate flashes of lighting and thunder with some tumbleweeds and boulders rolling across in front of us. I’m waiting for the sun to come out and the flowers to bloom. In the meantime, I will focus today and try to gather as much happiness as I can. It’s Eat A Pretzel Day, Clean Up The Earth Day, National Nut Day, National Color Day, Smart Is Cool Day (can’t disagree with that) and Hug A Wombat Day. In case you don’t know, a Wombat is a short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupial native to Australia so it might be difficult to find one to hug today. I’ll eat some peanuts. Now the history. This is the day in 1861 that the 1st telegraph line linking West & East coasts is completed. On this day in 1877 the Blantyre mining disaster in Scotland kills 207 miners. Those widows and orphans who were unable to support themselves were evicted by the mine owners and likely sent to the Poor House. This is the day in 1897 that the world’s first car dealer opens in London. In 1906 on this day 3000 blacks demonstrate & riot in Philadelphia. Finally, in 1962 on this day, President Kennedy addresses the nation about Russian missile bases in Cuba and imposes a naval blockade on Cuba, beginning the Cuban missile crisis. This is the day in 1975 that the British historian Arnold J. Toynbee assumed room temperature. The best quotes come from philosophers. The second best are from historians who have devoted their lives to the study of things done well and things done badly. Here’s a quote from Mr. Toynbee, “As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility.” In other words, it’s up to us. With that, I’ll start my day. Abide
