It’s the 12th day of October 2021. I woke up this morning and realized I only have one thing on my agenda for today: Enjoy today. That’s it. For most of my life, it’s not been this way. I think the biggest difference between myself and many of the philosophers I like to quote is that they didn’t have to spend 70 years figuring out this agenda. Some people never do. I’m grateful I have. On this day we can celebrate Free Thought Day, International Moment Of Frustrated Scream Day, Old Farmer’s Day, Pulled Pork Day and National Gumbo Day. It’s gumbo for me. I’m a big fan of spicy Louisiana cuisine. Now to the history of this day. In 1285, 180 Jews refuse to be baptized and were set on fire in Munich Germany. Had I been there, the count would have been 179. On this day in 1609, the children’s rhyme “Three Blind Mice” was published in London. Many of the English children’s rhymes were political statements. Three Blind Mice is thought to be about the persecution of three protestant priests by Queen Mary I. In 1773, America’s first asylum opens for ‘Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds’ in Virginia. On this day in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt renames the “Executive Mansion” as “The White House”. On this day in 1979 Larry Bird plays his first game for the Celtics and Magic Johnson makes his debut for Los Angeles Lakers. What great basketball we were able to watch. This is the day in 1924 that the French poet, journalist, and novelist named Anatole France died. He said, “I thank fate for having made me born poor. Poverty taught me the true value of the gifts useful to life”. Have I ever mentioned that the first home I remember didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing? This is also the day in 1999 that Wilt Chamberlain passed. Wilt said” It is said that good things come to those who wait. I believe that good things come to those who work” and “Everything is habit-forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.” I hope you enjoy this day as much as I plan to. Abide.
