We have made it to December 18th, 2019. Icing on my cake. Another day to enjoy. Life is great. It will be a little colder but well above freezing. Maybe a day for socks for my flip flops and jeans instead of shorts. We’ll see. We’ve got plenty of choices today: It’s Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day, Bake Cookies Day, National Roast Suckling Pig Day, International Migrants Day, National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day (?) and Ham Salad Day. I’m going with Buddy the Elf because it’s one of my favorite Christmas movies: He says: “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?” Moving to the way back machine: In 1719 Thomas Fleet publishes “Mother Goose’s Melodies For Children”. If you ever see an old book with that title at a garage sale, buy it. Here’s one: “3 men went to see in a bowl, if the bowl had been stronger, this poem would be longer”. In 1878 on this date, John Kehoe, the last of the Molly Maguires, is executed in Pennsylvania. Who were the “Molly Maguires”? Interesting story. They were a secret society of Irish workers who fought for better working conditions. 20 were tried and executed on this day in what appeared to be a rigged trial. John Kehoe who was the “King” of the Molly Maguires has been pardoned by the State of Pennsylvania. This was a dark date in 1917 when the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, authorizing prohibition of alcohol was passed. In 1961 on this date, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 78 points vs LA. Finally, in 1963 “The Pink Panther” film premieres starring Peter Sellers and David Niven is released. This the day (1878) that Joseph Stalin was born. He said “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic”. This also happens to be the day (1971) that Bobby Jones drew his last breath. He said “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.” I think all competitive sports are played on that course. I know that’s where pool is played. With that, I think I’ll go play some. Abide
