This is February 19th, 2022. Another day of opportunity awaits. I intend to take full advantage of it. Not unusual since I try to do so every day. Today is different because it’s Tug-Of-War Day, Iwo Jima Day, National Lash Day, World Whale Day, Prevent Plagiarism Day and National Chocolate Mint Day. I will choose anything with the word “chocolate” in it. Not much ancient history for this date. In 1539 the Jews of Tyrnau Hungary were expelled. I doubt they did anything to justify their expulsions. In 1831 the 1st coal-burning locomotive made its trial run in Pennsylvania. In 1878 Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his gramophone (phonograph). In 1881 Kansas became the 1st state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. Bummer. In 1913 the 1st prize was inserted into a Cracker Jack box. In 1914, a 4-year-old child was mailed by train from Grangeville, Idaho to her grandparents’ house 73 miles away. On this day in 1942, 150 Japanese warplanes attacked Darwin Australia. On that same day, FDR ordered the detention and internment of all West-coast Japanese Americans. This is the day in 1945 that 30,000 Marines invaded Iwo Jima. Today we will look at quotes from Andre’ Gide who was a French author and Nobel Prize winner who died in 1951. He said, “I can’t expect others to share my virtues. It’s good enough for me if they share my vices.” “Understand that the only possession of any value is life.” “Money cannot buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you’re being miserable.” I’ll end with “Believe in your strength and your vision. Learn to repeat to yourself: It all depends on me.” With that, I’ll jump into living this new day. Abide.
