It’s February 16, 2021. A very good day to be in Florida. 150 million people across 25 states are very cold today and many don’t have power. Climate Change? Probably has something to do with it. It does demonstrate once again how tenuous human existence is. I am grateful to be where I am. Today is Do a Grouch a Favor Day (I avoid grouchy people), National Almond Day, Paczki Day, International Pancake Day and Mardi Gras, which has been cancelled in New Orleans. February is also the Great American Pie Month so you can always celebrate that. Now let’s see what happened on this date in history. In 600 Pope Gregory the Great decreed the “God bless You” was the correct response to a sneeze. In 1838 Kentucky passed a law permitting women to attend school. In 1883 “Ladies Home Journal” began publishing. In 1932 the 1st patent for a tree was issued to James Markham for a peach tree. In 1943 a sign appeared on a building in Munich Germany that read “Out with Hitler! Long live freedom!” The sign was posted by Sophie Scholl who was a member of the “White Rose”, a student group protesting the Nazis. She was caught on 2/18 and beheaded on 2/22. Finally, in 1992 on this date the LA Lakers retired Magic Johnson’s #32 uniform. When I pick my dream team of everyone who has played the game, Magic is my guard. This is the birthday of Henry Adams who was a historian born in 1838. Henry said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” I think that’s a great quote. It applies to everyone who is around a child. In my search for a good quote by someone who died on this day, I found a good one but don’t know who said it. “Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution”. Those are words to live by if you are pursuing happiness. Make today a good one if you can. Abide.
