We have finally reached the end of January 2021. It’s the 31st day of this patch of bad road we’ve been traveling through. A hundred years from now people will read about this month and shake their heads wondering “what could they have been thinking?” We had a front row seat at the circus, which reminds me that I haven’t been to a circus in over 10 years. I’d like to go to one again. Moving on, today is Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day which I certainly do. It’s also Backwards Day when we are urged to do things in reverse order. It’s Hug an Economist Day, Hell is Freezing Over Day, Eat Brussel Sprouts Day and National Hot Chocolate Day. There’s more but this is enough to work with. I used to live within a few miles of Hell, Michigan and it is freezing over this time of year. That’s one of the reasons I moved to Florida. I’m going to celebrate my Social Security Check. I know a lot of people who say they don’t like “socialism“ but they cash their monthly check. Now to the odd historical footnotes for this date: In 1696 a revolt in Amsterdam by undertakers was put down. It seems that new taxes were being imposed on them to pay for a war with France. In 1846 on this day after the Milwaukee Bridge War, Juneautown and Kilbourntown unified as the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Yes, they called it a war. These two towns were always fighting and the community leaders decided to merge the towns to stop the fighting. In 1876 on this date, the United States ordered all Native Americans to move into reservations. In 1905 the 1st automobile to exceed 100 mph was driven by A G MacDonald at Daytona Beach. In 1928 on this date the 3-M Company started selling scotch tape. This date is the birthday (1915) of Thomas Menton. He was a Trappist monk, writer, theologian, poet, and scholar of comparative religion. He said, “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” Another of his quotes is “The tighter you squeeze, the less you have.” This is also the date in 1956 that A.A. Milne drew his last breath. He’s the author of Winnie the Pooh and one of my favorite philosophers. He said, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” That’s enough for this last day of January 2021. I’m looking forward to a better February. Abide
