August 30, 2023. I’ve dodged another bullet. Rolled a 7. Hit the inside straight. Lady Luck has once more smiled at me. Hurricane Idalia is making landfall well North of us. Good for me, bad for the millions of people who live close to the coast from North Florida to Washington DC. Today I will celebrate my good fortune and Frankenstein Day, International Cabernet Sauvignon Day, International Whale Shark Day, National Beach Day, National Toasted Marshmallow Day, Slinky Day, Tug of War Day, and Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday. Onto historical footnotes: On this day in 1146 European leaders outlawed the crossbow intending to end war for all time. On this day in 1682 William Penn left England to sail to the New World. One of my ancestors sailed with him. On this day in 1890 President Benjamin Harrison signed the first U.S. law requiring government inspection of meat products. On this day in 1954 hurricane Carol killed 68 people on the US East Coast. In 1956 on this day a white mob prevented the enrollment of blacks at Mansfield High School in Texas. On this day in 1967 the US Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall who is the first black justice to serve on the Supreme Court. On this day in 1979 hurricane David, a category 5 with winds of 175 mph hit the Dominican Republic killing over 2,000. It’s a tough day for finding quotes so I’ll use some from Thurgood Marshall who said, “Equal means getting the same thing at the same time and in the same place.” “To protest against injustice is the foundation of all our American democracy.” “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody, a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns, bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” I’ll end with this one: “I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110, shot by a jealous husband.” Thurgood had a good plan. Abide.
