It is January 29, 2022. It’s going to be an ugly day for millions of people who live North of where I do. It’s not going to be “fun in the sun” for me but at least it won’t be “can’t go in the snow”. It’s still winter but soon it will be spring. I can manage long pants and shoes for a few days. Today is Curmudgeons Day, Freethinkers Day, National Puzzle Day, Swap Seeds Day, Seeing Eye Dog Day, National Carnation Day and National Corn Chip Day. Pass me the salsa please. On this day in 1595 Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” was performed for the first time. On this day in 1845 Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” was first published. In 1861 on this day Kansas became the 34th state admitted to the Union. On this day in 1863 Colonel Patrick Edward Connor and 200 California Volunteers attacked the winter village of the Shoshoni tribe camped on the Bear River on the Idaho Utah border killing over 250 men, women and children. This event is called the Bear River Massacre. On this day in 1892 the Coca-Cola Company was incorporated. On this day in 1963 Jim Thorpe, Red Grange and George Halas were elected to the football Hall of Fame. This is the day in 1880 that W.C. Fields was born. Love his quotes: “You can fool some of the people some of the time – and that’s enough to make a decent living.” “Money will not buy happiness, but it will let you be unhappy in nice places.” Everybody’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.” This is also the day that the journalist and critic H. L. Mencken died at the age of 75. He observed “The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest the most violently are those who are trying to tell them the truth.” He also said, “For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong.” Do yourself a favor and search on “H.L Mencken quotes” and start reading these short insightful observations. Abide.
