February 20, 2024 has finally arrived. I’m happy to be here to enjoy this day. It’s a big day for me personally because I begin my immunotherapy this morning. I’m planning to dodge yet another bullet on my journey through this lifetime. So, Capi Diem, damn the torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!! It’s Clean Out Your Bookcase Day, National Muffin Day, Love Your Pet Day, National Comfy Day, Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day, and National Cherry Pie Day. Now to the history of this date: In 1673 the 1st recorded wine auction was held in London. In 1725 on this date 10 sleeping Indians were scalped by whites in New Hampshire for £100 a scalp bounty paid by the British Government. Europeans didn’t introduce “scalping” but they were the first to pay a bounty for them. In 1839 Congress prohibited dueling in District of Columbia. In 1872 Luther Crowell patented a machine that manufactures paper bags. In 1927, golfers in SC were arrested for violating Sabbath. In 1933 the US House of Representatives completed Congressional action to repeal Prohibition. On this day in 1939 a pro-Nazi rally was held at Madison Square Garden and 20,000 people attended. On this day in 1959 Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut at 16 years old when he played a show at a synagogue in Seattle. Today’s dead person is the actor, Sidney Poitier. Sidney said, “You don’t have to become something you’re not to be better than you were.” “I am the me I choose to be.” “A person doesn’t have to change who he is to become better.” “I do know that I’m responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.” “I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father’s life.” “I think the way I want to think. I live the way I want to live.” I’ll end with “If I’m remembered for having done a few good things and if my presence here has sparked some good energies, that’s plenty.” Abide.
