This is February 19th, 2020. It will be a beautiful 80 degree day in Central Florida. I intend to take full advantage of the sunshine. We pay our dues in the summer to enjoy the moderate temperatures in the winter. If the weather isn’t enough to put you in a celebratory mood, it’s also International Tug-Of-War Day, Iwo Jima Day, Prevent Plagiarism Day and National Chocolate Mint Day. I will choose anything with the word “chocolate” in it. Not much ancient history for this date. In 1539 the Jews of Tyrnau Hungary were expelled. For the last thousand years Jews have been getting kicked out of everywhere in Europe. I doubt they did anything to justify their expulsions. In 1831 the 1st practical US coal-burning locomotive makes 1st trial run in Pennsylvania. In 1878 Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his gramophone (phonograph). In 1881 Kansas becomes 1st state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. Bummer. In 1913 the 1st prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box. In 1914, a 4 year old Charlotte May Pierstorff is mailed by train from Grangeville, Idaho to her grandparents’ house 73 miles away in most famous ‘child in the post’ instance. I never knew that little obscure factoid. In 1932 William Faulkner completes his novel “Light in August”. I bring this up only to give you a quote from Faulkner, “There is no such thing as bad whiskey. Some whiskeys just happen to be better than others. But a man shouldn’t fool with booze until he’s fifty; then he’s a damn fool if he doesn’t.” I’m in total agreement with Mr. Faulkner. This is the day in 1924 when Lee Marvin was born. He was in the Dirty Dozen and Cat Ballou. This is also the day in 1997 when Deng Xiaoping died. He was China’s leader from 1978 to 1992. He said, “When our thousands of Chinese students abroad return home, you will see how China will transform itself.” In other words, he had a plan. Seems to be working. Now, the day begins. Abide
