This is October 23, 2022. Another fresh, never used, day awaits. I’m grateful that I learned long ago that “growing up” and “being old” is an optional state of mind. On my 28,267th day of life I dressed up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy and went to a Halloween Party. Life is good. Today is Mother-In-Law Day, National Boston Cream Pie Day, National Canning Day, National Croc Day, National Slap Your Irritating Co-Worker Day, Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day, and TV Talk Show Host Day. Not a great list but I do like the cream pie. Now some history: On this day in 42 BC the second battle of Philippi was fought. Everyone knows that Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus (who didn’t act alone) but most don’t know what happened after. There was a war between the forces loyal to Caesar (Octavian and Mark Antony) who raised an army of around 100,000 and Marcus Brutus and Gaius Longinus who raised an army of similar size. The second battle was won by the avengers and Brutus committed suicide. On this day in 1790 slaves revolted in Haiti. The revolt was suppressed, and the instigators killed. On this day in 1819 the 1st ship sailed through the Erie Canal. In 1910 on this day the Ritz Hotel in Madrid opened with 200 rooms and 100 bathtubs. On this day in 1915 25,000 supporters of women’s suffrage marched on New York’s Fifth Avenue. This is the day in 1941 that Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” was released. This is the day in 1973 that Nixon turned over the White House tapes. The first dead person today is the Western writer Zane Gray who said, “Never insult seven men when all you’re packing is a six-shooter.” Good advice. Next is the singer Jerry Jeff Walker who said, “The only way to know how much is enough, is to do too much, and then back up.” The last quote is from Johnny Carson who observed that “The only thing money gives you is the freedom of not worrying about money.” That’s enough for today. Abide.
