December 11, 2022 is here. As usual, I need to summon my imaginary cheerleading squad to line up in front of my keyboard and spell out G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D-E, wave some pom poms and jump around a bit. Putting myself on the road to a happy day is my first order of business. That being achieved, we can move onto the celebratory events designated for today, which are Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day, International Mountain Day, National App Day, National Have a Bagel Day, National Noodle Ring Day, World Choral Day, and Worldwide Candle Lighting Day. If I were in New York City, I would celebrate the bagel. Now some history to ponder. On this day in 1620 the Mayflower Pilgrims came ashore in Plymouth Bay. On this day in 1792 France’s King Louis XVI goes on trail for high treason and charges against the state. He would face the guillotine on the following January 21st ending the monarchy in France. This is the day in 1844 that nitrous oxide was first used in a dental procedure. On this day in 1909 colored moving pictures were demonstrated at Madison Square Garden in NYC. On this day in 1917 13 black soldiers were hanged for participating in a Houston riot. On this day in 1961 Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” album goes to #1 and stays there for 20 weeks. On this day in 1964 Che Guevara gave a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in NYC. In 1978 on this day 6 masked men tie up 10 employees at the Lufthansa cargo area at Kennedy Airport in NYC and walked away with $5.8 million in cash and jewelry. Today we visit the grave of Rajneesh because it’s his birthday. I have over 2,000 of his quotes to choose from. Here are a few of them: “Now is the only reality. All else is either memory or imagination.” “Nobody is superior, nobody is inferior, but nobody is equal either. People are simply unique, incomparable. You are you, I am I.” “Never ask “Who is my real friend?” Ask, “Am I a real friend to somebody?” That is the right question.” I’ll end with “Expectations always lead to frustrations. Expectations are the seeds, and frustration is the crop that sooner or later you will have to reap. It is your own doing.” Abide.
