We are now in the 28th day of October 2021. It’s going to be a rainy day in Central Florida. The lawns and the ducks will love it. Soon we will get the natural migration of our feathered friends and our ponds will be filled with all kinds of ducks. It’s good to be here to enjoy winter in the sunshine state which is the reason that most of us decided to move here. Today is International Animation Day, Plush Animal Lover’s Day, Separation Of Church And State Day, Wild Foods Day and my pick, National Chocolate Day. There are abundant historical footnotes associated with this day. In 1492 Columbus sighted Cuba and claimed it for Spain under the name “Juana”. In 1636 Harvard University, Cambridge, was founded by a vote of the Massachusetts General Court. In 1793 Eli Whitney applied for a patent on cotton gin. This was a very big deal if you lived in the Mississippi Delta. In 1858 R. H. Macy & Co opened the 1st store in New York City. The gross receipts were $11.06. In 1886 Statue of Liberty was dedicated by US President Grover Cleveland and celebrated by the first ticker tape parade in New York City. Finally, on this dark day in 1919 the Volstead Act was passed by US Congress, establishing prohibition, despite President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. The madness didn’t stop until 1933 when 3.2 beer became legal. Today we celebrate the birthday of Doctor Jonas Salk who refused to file a patent and become wealthy when he discovered the Polio Vaccine. When asked who owns the patent? He said, “Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the Sun?” Jonas also said, “I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” The world needs more people like Jonas Salk. This is also the day in 1704 that the English philosopher and physician John Locke died. John said, “Don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using what you do have.” He also said, “He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.” That sounds like excellent advice to me. Abide.
