12.24.2022 is here. I’m grateful to be alive to celebrate my 78th Christmas. Somebody better tell Santa to wear an extra set of long johns tonight because it’s cold. To be more exact, it’s damned cold! I’m sure he will persevere and magically visit the hundreds of millions of homes that celebrate tomorrow. Besides being Christmas Eve, it’s also Last-Minute Shopper’s Day, National Egg Nogg Day, and Super Saturday. Now some history to put the present in perceptive. On this day in 1777 Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook. This is the day in 1814 that the Treaty of Ghent was signed ending the War of 1812 between the US and England. In 1818 on this day the Christmas carol ‘Silent Night’ was 1st sung in Oberndorf, Austria. On this day in 1832 the 1st US Negro hospital was founded in Savannah, GA. On this day in 1851 a fire devastated the US Library of Congress and destroyed 35,000 books. This is the day in 1865 that several Confederate veterans formed the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski, TN. On this day in 1943 President FDR appointed General Eisenhower as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces. Today’s wisdom comes from Norman Vincent Peale lived 95 years. Norman said, “A positive thinker does not refuse to recognize the negative; he refuses to swell on it.” “The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others.” “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” The last quote for today is “A basic law: the more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” Mr. Peale’s quotes resonate with me. Enough for today. Abide.
