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The mile post reads 12.17.22. It’s a quite stretch of time/space of 1.6 million miles. When you’re moving at 66,627 mph, the trip only takes 1 day. Here we are, fragile, short-lived, carbon-based creatures with a brain large enough and complex enough to realize our mortality and make tools. Our home is a rock with a thin atmosphere flying though space. We’re lucky we exist. The odds were against it. Today is National Maple Syrup Day, National Wreaths Across America Day, Pan American Aviation Day, and Wright Brothers Day. Not a lot to celebrate unless you’re having pancakes for breakfast. This is the day in 1206 that Crusader Wallon de Sarton presented the Bishop of Amiens with the skull of John the Baptist stolen from Constantinople. This is one of my favorite footnotes. In 1398 Tamerlane defeats the Sultan’s armies by setting camels loaded with hay on fire and charging them at the Sultan’s armored elephants. What a sight that must have been. On this day in 1791 NYC traffic regulations created the first one-way street. On this day in 1821 Kentucky abolished debtor’s prison. In 1862 on this day General Ulysses S. Grant issued order #11 which expelled Jews from Tennessee. On this day in 1900 a prize of 100,000 franc offered to the first person to communicate with extraterrestrials. The contest excluded Mars which was thought to be too easy. On this day in 1933 the NFL held its first title game. The Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants 23 to 21. This is the day in 1944 that the US released Japanese Americans from detention. In 1957 on this day ‘The Nat King Cole Show’ was cancelled because it was unable to sign a national sponsor. Today’s advice from dead people comes from the Greek philosopher Epictetus who stopped living in 135 AD. He said, “He who is not happy with little will never be happy with much.” “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” “The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Last one is “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” I’d like to spend an afternoon with him. Abide.
