The end of September 2023 has arrived. It’s been a good month for me. That means nothing bad happened. Any month in which I avoid stiches is a good one. Since I’ve realized that our brains are programed to be slightly negative biased, I’m more aware that I need to push myself in a positive direction. My coffee cup is half full. September 30th is Blasphemy Day, chewing Gum Day, Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day, National Ghost Hunting Day, National Love People Day, National Mulled Cider Day, Orange Shirt Day, Save Your Photos Day, and Thunderbirds Day. Moving on. On this day in 1659 Peter Stuyvesant of New Netherlands forbids tennis playing during religious services. This is the first mention of “tennis” in the US. On this day in 1791 the National Constituent Assembly in Paris was dissolved and Maximilien Robespierre and Jerome Petion were hailed as incorruptible patriots. Robespierre would be guillotined, and Petion committed suicide rather than die on the guillotine. On this day in 1864 13 black soldiers were honored with the US Medal of Honor for leading a charge against the Confederate fortifications during the Battle of New Market Heights, VA. On this day in 1888 Jack the Ripper murdered Liz Stride and Kate Eddowes in Whitechapel, London. On this day in 1946 twenty-two Nazi leaders were found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to death or prison at the Nuremberg war trials. On this day in 1950 the Grand Ole Opry was broadcast on TV for the first time. This is the day in 1955 that James Dean was killed in a car crash at age 24. In 1962 on this day JFK sent 3,000 federal troops to the University of Mississippi to quell riots protesting desegregation. Today I’m going to give you a single quote. It’s a long one but it’s a good one. James Dean said, “Remember: Life is short, break the rules. Forgive quickly, kiss slowly. Love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile. The clouds are lined with silver and the glass is half full. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You are who you are meant to be. Dance as if no one’s watching. Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” Abide.
