January 15, 2021. It seems like the vaccine distribution is picking up. Great news because the daily deaths are moving into the 4,000 range. Soon this will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory. A spike of chaos that will become a footnote in our history books. I browse those footnotes every day. Now, lets see what is special about January 15th. It’s National Bagel Day, Wikipedia Day, Humanitarian Day, National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day, National Hat Day and Pothole Day. Have you ever had a New York Deli bagel with lox, cream cheese, red onions and capers? If you haven’t, put it on your bucket list. OMG so good. Now onto the history of this date. The first footnote of interest is on this date in 1535 Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church in England. Henry who had 6 wives, had run England into the ground, had become very unpopular decided that he should become the head of the Church of England, and since he was the King, did it. On this day in 1762 Fraunces Tavern opens in NYC. It’s still operating today. In 1870 the donkey first used as symbol of Democratic Party, in Harper’s Weekly. In 1961 on this day, Berry Gordy signs The Supremes with Motown Records. Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. He said “The time is always right to do what is right” and “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Both are accurate. This is also the day in 1996 that Rudolf Walter Wanderone Jr. the pool player also known as “Minnesota Fats” stopped living. He said, “I’m known clean around the world”. I’m sure that was true at the time. Gleason played him in the movie “The Hustler”. I love that movie. That’s enough for this day. Stay safe, this is almost over. Abide.
