We’ve only got a few hours of 2020 yet to be lived. It became December 31st a few hours ago. I’ve gone back and looked at the posts I’ve made on this day over the last 10 years. They are all similar. I’m always thankful for my family and friends and I always look forward to the coming year with optimism. That’s especially true this time around. Today it’s New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay, Make Up Your Mind Day, National Champagne Day and No Interruptions Day which is for people who work and are trying to tie up all those lose ends of the year. Now some interesting footnotes from prior years for this date: In 192 Roman Emperor Commodus survives poisoning attempt by his mistress only to be strangled in the bath in assassination plot. If you saw the movie “Gladiator”, the Emperor in the movie was Commodus. On this day in 1776, Rhode Island establishes wage & price controls to curb inflation: Limit is 70 cents a day for carpenters, 42 cents for tailors. In 1904 the 1st New Year’s Eve celebration is held in Times Square. The first ball drop in Times Square takes place in 1907. In 1924 Italian Fascist Mussolini orders the suppression of opposition newspapers. He said “The press of Italy is free, freer than the press of any other country, so long as it supports the regime.” Finally, in 1946 US President Harry Truman officially proclaims end of WW II. I’ll wrap up this final post of 2019 with a couple of Irish toasts. “May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” “May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” Be safe. Abide
