This is February 19th, 2024. It’s that time of the day when I remind myself of my incredible luck to be able to live this life. I’ve been in earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and war. I’ve almost been killed by combines, tractors, buses and once a peanut butter delivery truck. I won’t get into the several serious illnesses that could easily have turned off my light. Despite everything, I still exist. Gratitude should be my middle name. Feb. 19 is International Tug-Of-War Day, Iwo Jima Day, Prevent Plagiarism Day, Presidents Day, National Air Boat Day, and National Chocolate Mint Day. I will choose anything with the word “chocolate” in it. Not much ancient history for this date. In 1539 the Jews of Tyrnau Hungary were expelled. For the last thousand years Jews have been getting kicked out of everywhere in Europe. I doubt they did anything to justify their expulsions. In 1831 the 1st practical US coal-burning locomotive makes 1st trial run in Pennsylvania. In 1878 Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his gramophone (phonograph). In 1881 Kansas becomes 1st state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. Bummer. In 1913 the 1st prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box. In 1914, a 4–year–old Charlotte May Pierstorff was mailed by train from Grangeville, Idaho to her grandparents’ house 73 miles away. Today’s dead person is the French writer Andre Gide who said, “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not.” “It is one of life’s laws that as soon as one door closes another opens. But the tragedy is we look at the closed door and disregard the open one.” “When everything belongs to everyone, nobody will take care of anything.” “the color of truth is gray”. That is an excellent quote. One last one for today: “Most often people seek in life occasions for persisting in their opinions rather than for educating themselves.” Another good one. Abide.
