What a difference a year makes. Last year on August 1st we were hiding in our homes and about to be hit by a hurricane. I just looked at the National Hurricane Center map and there are no Xs in the Atlantic and I’m going to play pool this morning. That means I’m happy, which means that my attitude is good and I’m going to have a good day. Life is good. Today is Homemade Pie Day which is my celebratory pick. It’s also National Girlfriends Day, National Doll Day, Friendship Day and National Raspberry Cream Pie Day. There’s more but this is enough for me. Here are a few historical footnotes: On this day in 30 BC Augustus and his army entered Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of Roman. On this iday in 1774 English chemist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen by isolating it in its gaseous state. On this day in 1893 Henry Perky patented a machine used for the preparation of cereals for food, otherwise known as shredded wheat. This is the day in 1933 that the National Recovery Administration (NRA) was founded. The goal was to eliminate “cut throat competition” by bringing industry, labor, and government together to create codes of “fair practices” and set prices. Lastly, this is the day in 1944 of Anne Frank’s last diary entry. She was arrested 3 days later. This is the day in 10 BC that Claudius, Roman Emperor from 41 to 54 was born. He said, “To do nothing evil is good; to wish nothing evil is better.” This is the day in 1787 that Saint Alphonsus Liguori stopped living. He said, “The past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You have only the present wherein to do good.” Lots of people throughout history have said that we should focus on living in the moment. I’m doing my best. Abide.
