June 18 2021. There’s a tropical storm brewing in the middle of the Gulf this morning that has a 90% chance of growing into some bad weather. As my grandmother often said, “that’s the only flour lump in the gravy bowl.” Everything else seems to be going just fine. Today is Go Fishing Day, International Panic Day (will not celebrate this one), International Picnic Day, International Sushi Day, Flip Flop Day, Ugliest Dog Day and National Splurge Day. I’ll go with Flip Flops and Sushi. Now we will catch a ride on the way back machine: On this day in 682 William Penn founded Philadelphia. This is the date in 1812 that the US declared war on England. On this day in 1873 Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 ($2,200 in 2020 value) for voting for US President in Rochester, New York; she refused to pay and no further action against her was taken. On this day in 1898 the 1st amusement pier opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey. On this day in 1962 at the Monterey International Pop Festival, the first major US appearances of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, and Otis Redding were made. This is the day in 1936 that Maxim Gorky’s life ended. He was a Russian writer who was nominated 5 times for a Nobel Prize. He said “Be good, be kind, be humane, and charitable; love your fellows; console the afflicted; pardon those who have done you wrong.” Excellent advice. This is also the day in 1902 that the English novelist Samuel Butler assumed room temperature. He said, “All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.” Gorky tells us what to do and Butler reminds us of the reason we should. Now, go and enjoy this wonderful, once in your lifetime day. Abide.
