The 4th day of December has arrived. The next week in Central Florida will be fantastic. Sunny skies and a temperature range from the high 70s to the low 80s. Doesn’t get much better than that. The pandemic is still with us, the world continues to be in chaos, stupidity dominates the news but I’m going to ignore all of it and have myself a good day. I can control my thoughts and therefore my attitude. We have a big list of events today. It’s National Cookie Day, National Dice Day, National Sock Day, Wear Brown Shoes Day, Santa’s List Day, Cabernet Franc Day and National Rhubarb Vodka Day. I will celebrate cookies today. Now to the history of this date. In 1674 on this day Father Marquette builds first dwelling in what is now Chicago. This is the day in 1783 General Washington bid his officers farewell at Fraunce’s Tavern, NYC. The tavern is still in business. This is the day in 1829 that the Britain outlawed “suttee” in India (widow burning herself to death on her husband’s funeral pyre). On this day in 1881 the first edition of the Los Angeles Times was published. In 1954 the first Burger King is opened in Miami, Florida. Today is Jeff Bridges, aka Jeffery Lebowski, aka the Dude’s birthday. The Dude said, “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man” and “The Dude Abides”. This is the day in 1131 that the Persian poet and philosopher Omar Khayyam stopped living. I’ll end with one of his recommendations: “Drink wine. This is life eternal. This is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” As the Dude suggests: Abide.
