May 17, 2022. The sun is up, the coffee hot and slightly sweet, I haven’t browsed the headlines yet so I’m got no negative thoughts to push out of my head. I’m off to an excellent start on this new day of my life. Today is National Rat Pack Day, National Mushroom Hunting Day, National Cherry Cobbler Day, National Walnut Day and Pinot Grigio Day. I will have some Pinot Grigio today. Now we will look at the history of this day. This date in 1536 Anne Boleyn was beheaded after being found guilty of high treason. She was Henry VIII’s second wife and could not produce a son. In 1775 during the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress banned trade with Canada. In 1792, 24 merchants formed the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street. On this day in 1875 the first Kentucky Derby was held. Oliver Lewis abord Aristides won the race. This is the day in 1900 that “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published. On this day in 1946 President Harry Truman seized control of our railroad system to delay a strike. Now let’s see what wisdom we can find from dead people. The first is from the author Herman Wouk who wrote the Cain Mutiny. He said, “Write a page a day, it will add up.” Next up, John Deere who started out as a blacksmith and ended up making tactors. John said, “Whoever said that country life was simple, never lived on a farm”. The last one for today is the Columbian philosopher Nicolas Gomez Davila who said, “Swimming against the current is not idiotic if the waters are facing toward a waterfall.” Now I will begin my day. I’m expecting it to be a good one. Abide.
