February 28, 2021. I woke up this morning thinking about being in Hong Kong in 1968. Seems like it happened last week instead of 53 years ago. A lifetime passes quickly. Don’t waste a day of it. Celebrate life and you can also celebrate National Chocolate Soufflé Day, National Sleeping In Public Day, National Tooth Fairy Day and National Science Day. Sleeping in public could get you in trouble. On this day in 1646, Roger Scott of Lynn, Massachusetts, was found guilty of sleeping in church and sentenced to a public whipping as punishment. Yikes! In 1859 Arkansas legislature requires free blacks to choose exile or slavery. Wow. Think about that one for a few minutes. On this day in 1844 a 12-inch gun aboard USS Princeton exploded, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer, and other high-ranking U.S. federal officials. Now something really interesting. In 1917 on this day the AP reported that Mexico was going to align with Germany if the US entered WWI. That would have resulted in a war between the US and Mexico. Germany tried to talk Mexico into getting into WWI and if they won, Mexico would get back Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. I never knew that. This is Mario Andretti’s birthday (1940). He said, “I count my blessings every day, quite honestly, because I take nothing for granted.” Me too Mario, me too. This is also the day in 1916 that the writer Henry James left life. He said, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” Another of his quotes I like is “Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.” Think about that the next time you’re tempted to pass along a post on Facebook. Good enough for this day. Be safe and Abide.
