The last day of July 2023 has arrived. It was a good month to live. I didn’t require stiches. I’ve set the bar low. July 31st is National Avocado Day, National Cotton Candy Day, National Jump for Jelly Beans Day, National Mutt Day, National Raspberry Cake Day, Shredded Wheat Day, Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day, and World Ranger Day. Onto some history: On this day in 1498 Columbus became the first European to land on Trinidad during his third voyage. On this day in 1703 Daniel Defoe was placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after he published a politically satirical pamphlet. The people pelted him with flowers. On this day in 1777 a 19-year-old named Marquis de Lafayette was made a major general in the Continental Army. On this day in 1912 the US government prohibited movies and photos of prize fights. This is the day in 1922 that an 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson rode the world’s 1st water ski (Minnesota). On this day in 1942 German SS gassed 1,000 Jews in Minsk, Belorussia. On this day in 1967 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ended a 1-month jail sentence for having weed. Keith maintained that his incarceration helped turn the Stones into fold heroes. Today’s wisdom comes from the French author, poet and journalist Antonine de Saint-Exupery who said, “Every person that comes into our life comes for a reason; some come to learn, and others come to teach.” “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” “Let your dream devour your life, not your life devour your dream.” “Attitude is a paintbrush. It colors everything.” “All grown-ups were once children, but only a few of them remember it.” Abide.
