August 24, 2023 is today’s date. It’s a once in a lifetime day. The universe has been waiting 13.5 billion years or more for it to arrive. It would be a shame to waste it. It would be great if I had something exciting planned for today. I don’t. I will remind myself to notice the details, think good thoughts and be nice. Today is Can Opener Day, International Strange Music Day, Knife Day, National Peach Pie Day, National Waffle Day, Shooting Star Day, and Weather Complaint Day. I know it’s hot but we’re cooler than much of the country. Moving on: On this day in 410 Rome was overrun by Visigoths for the 1st time in 800 years. It is regarded as the fall of the Western Roman Empire. On this day in 1349 in the city of Mainz, the Jews were blamed for the plague and 6,000 were killed. On this same day in Cologne Germany, Jews set themselves on fire to avoid baptism. Isn’t religion great? Another example: On this day in 1572 the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre happened when Protestants were killed by Roman Catholics in Paris. On this day in 1853 the 1st potato chip was prepared by chef George Crum at Moon’s Lake House near Saratoga Springs, New York. On this day in 1858 in Richmond Virginia 80 blacks were arrested for learning to read. I couldn’t find any reference as to what their punishment would have been but I did find a Virginia law passed in the 1820s that called for 20 lashes. On this day in 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) went into effect. On this day in 1981 Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life for the murder of John Lennon. On this day in 1989 Pete Rose was suspended from baseball for life for gambling. Today’s smart dead person is Gail Sheehy who was an author, journalist and lecturer who died in 1984. Gail said, “If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing.” “It was so naïve to think that there was nothing after 55. Come on, there’s a whole second adulthood.” “I dare to do things – that’s how I survive.” “We really only have two choices. Play it safe, or take a chance.” That’s enough for today. Abide.
