It’s December 8th, 2023. I’m going to start with a brief lesson in quantum physics. How many atoms are in the average human body (154 pounds)? The answer is 7 billion billion  billion atoms or a 7 followed by 27 zeros. Where were these atoms created? The Hydrogen atoms were formed at the big bang (if there was one) and the Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen atoms were made in stars which exploded. These atoms traveled through immense distances over billions of years to collect and make you and me. Wow. Feel lucky? You should. Today is National Chocolate Brownie Day, National Christmas Tree Day, National Lard Day, National Salesperson Day, Official Lost & Found Day, Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, and Take it in the Ear Day. Next is our daily history lesson. On this day in 1776 George Washington’s army was forced to retreat across the Delaware River from New Jersey. On this day in 1854 Pope Pius IX proclaims the Immaculate Conception and makes Mary, free of Original Sin. This is the day in 1863 that President Lincoln issued his Amnesty Proclamation and plan for the Reconstruction of the South. On this day in 1886 the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed by 26 craft unions. On this day in 1915 John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” appeared in Punch magazine. It’s short. Search and read. It’s an amazing poem. On this day in 1936 the NAACP filed suit to equalize the salaries of black & white teachers. On this day in 1941 President Roosevelt delivered his famous “Day of Infamy” speech. This is the day that the Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour” was released. In 1980 on this day, John Lennon was murdered. I’ll use his quotes to finish this post: “Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones.” “Everything will be okey in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” “Tame birds sing of freedom. Wild birds fly.” “Love is the answer. What was the question?” I’ll end with “Life is very short, and there’s no time for fussing and fighting my friends.” Abide.