Today is December 23rd, 2020. Last night I rewatched “It’s a wonderful life” for the umpteenth time. It’s my favorite Christmas movie. George Baily is shown how he affected the lives of other people and realizes how wonderful his life is. It’s a good lesson for all of us. Today it’s Festivus (the holiday for the rest of us), National Pfeffernüsse Day, National Roots Day and National Regifting Day. Pfeffernüsses are small hard Swedish cookies. Especially good with your morning coffee. Now let’s climb in the way back machine. In 1888 Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear with a razor, after an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, and sent to a prostitute for safe keeping. Here’s a quote from van Gogh “I put my heart and my soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process.” In 1954 the first human kidney transplant is performed. In 1930 Bette Davis arrives in Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios. She’s an interesting lady. Here’s a quote: “I’d marry again if I found a man who had fifteen million dollars, would sign over half to me, and guarantee that he’d be dead within a year.” Her eyes were her best feature. This is the day in 1972 that Abraham Joshua Heschel died. He was Jewish rabbi and philosopher. He said, “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” “It is the essence of virtue that the good is not to be done for the sake of a reward.” I’ll end with this quote: “Get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually.” That’s what I try to do every day. Abide.
