This is October 23rd, 2021. I’m excited to be here. Tonight, we will participate in one of the rites of Fall. We’re going to a Halloween Party. We’ve made the Jell-O shots and picked our costumes. Memories will be made tonight. 30 plus years ago when I was in the YMCA Indian Guide program with my son, I designed a Haunted House with 10 exhibits and with a couple of roving monsters. I never knew how much fun it would be to scare the hell out of people. Yes, I do love spiders, black cats and things that go bump in the night. Today is National Slap Your Irritating Co-Worker Day, National Croc Day, Make A Difference Day, National Canning Day, and Boston Cream Pie Day. Now let’s look at the history for this day. In 1668, the Jews of Barbados were forbidden to engage in retail trade. In 1790 on this day the Slaves in Haiti revolted. It didn’t turn out well for them. On this day in 1814 the 1st plastic surgery was performed in England. This is the day in 1915 that the 1st national horseshoe throwing championship was held in Kellerton, Iowa. While they were pitching shoes in Iowa, 25,000 supporters in a women’s suffrage marched on New York’s Fifth Ave, led by Dr. Anna Shaw and Carrie Chapman Catt, founder of the League of Women Voters. Finally, on this day in 1975 Women take the day off in Iceland to commemorate “International Women’s Year”, shutting the country down for a day. This is the day that the Western author Zane Gray died in 1939. He offers us this simple advice: “Never insult seven men when all you’re packing is a six shooter.” This is also Jonny Carson’s birthday (1925). I’ll end with a couple of quotes from Johnny: “Happiness is being stuck in an elevator and discovering the ravishing blonde with you is a liquor salesman with a case of samples” and “I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.” May you have as much fun as I intend to have on this day. Abide.
