We’ve slid quietly into the time/space of April 6th, 2021. The month of April has been around since 700 B.C. and was the second month of the year. It’s thought to be named after the Greek God of love, Aphrodite. Doesn’t have much to do with today, but someday there will be a trivia multiple choice question and you’ll have the answer. There’s lots of interesting choices for celebrations today. It’s Army Day, Fresh Tomato Day, National Caramel Popcorn Day, National Tartan Day, National Twinkie Day, Jump Over Things Day, Sweet Potato Day, Plan Your Epitaph Day and New Beer’s Eve which is the day before beer could once again be legally sold on April 7, 1933. Now some history of today. There aren’t a lot to choose from. In 1327 Italian poet Petrarch 1st set his eyes on his beloved Laura. Why bring this up? Well, it turns out that Petrarch is a contemporary of Shakespeare and a rather big deal at the time. Laura, whoever she was, became his fascination and he wrote 366 poems about here. He is also the person who developed the Sonnet style of poetry. It was this day in 1917 that the US declared war on Germany and entered World War I. Finally, on this day in 1935 H Levitt made 499 basketball free throws, missed one and made 371 more. I can’t find anything that tells me who he was. Today is the day in 1931 that Ram Dass was born. Ram was a psychologist, and author. He has a beautiful quote: “We’re all just walking each other home”. April 6 is the day that Merle Haggard was born and died 79 years later. Merle said “By the time you get close to the answers, it’s nearly all over.” It’s also the day my favorite science fiction writer, Issac Asimov passed. He said, “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.” I understand those quotes to mean, enjoy life while you can. Now I will begin to enjoy this wonderful, fresh new day. Abide.
