It is now March 26th, 2022, and I get to enjoy another day. When I think about all the paths I could have taken, all the destinations my decisions could have taken me, I realize how incredibly fortunate I am to be here. That is a daily affirmation for me and a good way to start each day. March 26 is Brothers and Sisters Day, National Nougat Day, National Spinach Day, Purple Day, National Make Up Your Own Holiday, and National Make Your Own Wine Day (which I just created). This is the day in 1790 that congress passed the Naturalization Act which required a 2-year residency. It was limited to “free white person[s] … of good character”. On this day in 1804, Congress ordered the removal of all Indians East of Mississippi to Louisiana. This is the day in 1886 that the 1st cremation is carried out in England. This is a surprise because they were burning people at the stake for a long time. Moving on. In 1910 the US forbid the immigration of criminals, anarchists, paupers and the sick. On this day in 1937 spinach growers of Crystal City, Texas, erected a statue of Popeye. In 1945 on this day, four Marines raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. In that battle 18,000 Japanese and 6,000 Americans died. Today we visit Jim Harrison who died in 2016. He was a poet and novelist. Jim said, “The simple act of opening a bottle of wine has brought more happiness to the human race than all the collective governments in the history of earth.” Hard to argue with that. Next is Walt Whitman who died on this day in 1892. Walt said, “Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” “Every hour of every day is an unspeakably perfect miracle.” I’ll wrap this up with “I exist as I am, that is enough.” Abide.
