It is now November 27, 2023. The primary purpose of the first couple of lines of this post is to remind myself, and you, that you need to be grateful for what you’ve got and calibrate your attitude to being positive. I also want to remind myself and you that less cable news is better. Mission accomplished. Today is Cyber Monday, National Bavarian Cream Pie Day, National Brand Day, National Craft Jerky Day, Pins and Needles Day, and Turtle Adoption Day. Not a great list but it does have a pie in it. Now history: On this day in 176 Marcus Aurelius granted his son Commodus the rank of Imperator at age 15. Imperator was a rank usually given to battle tested generals. Commodus went on to become emperor after his father’s death in 180. On this day in 1493 Columbus returned to La Navidad colony/fort on Haiti to find it destroyed by the 1st native American uprising against Spanish Rule. On this day in 1807 the Portuguese Royal Family and its court of nearly 15,000 people left Lisbon to sail to their colony in Brazil to escape the invading Napoleonic army. On this day in 1868 the Washita Massacre (Oklahoma) took place when General Custer attacked a winter encampment for thousands of Cheyenne. An estimated 140 Indians were killed along with 75 women and children. On this day in 1924 the 1st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in NYC. On this day in 1965, 25,000 people demonstrated against the war in Vietnam in Washington D.C. On this day in 2013 Tiger Woods was named PGA Player of the Year for the 11th time. Today’s observations come from the Roman poet and philosopher Horace who died in 8 B.C. He said, “Be modest in speech, but excel in action.” “A word once let out of the cage cannot be whistled back again.” “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” “Mix a little foolishness with our serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.” “Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.” I’ll end with this gem: “Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day, live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It’s later than you think.” Abide.
