March 14, 2024. No one is going to remember what you or I did on this day in a hundred years. In fact, only a few will even know that we existed at all. We will be reduced to a name in a list of ancestors. There’s some freedom in that knowledge. You are free to do whatever you want because in the long run, it won’t matter. Have some fun. Do something new. 3.14 is Pi Day, and Bake a Pie Day. It’s also Celebrate Scientists Day, Learn About Butterflies Day, National Potato Chip Day, Save A Spider Day (not), National Write Your Story Day, White Day (think chocolate), and Popcorn Lover’s Day. Now some history for this day. On this day in 1757 on board his own flagship, British Admiral John Byng was executed by firing squad for failing to come to the aid of a besieged British garrison. In 1794 on this day Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin machine which revolutionized the cotton industry in the South. On this day in 1903 the 1st national bird reservation was established in Sebastian, Florida. On this day in 1903 the South African Supreme Court declared that marriages not celebrated according to Christian rites are invalid which nullified all Muslim and Hindu marriages. Finally, in 1973 future US senator John McCain was released after spending over five years in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp. This is the day that Stephen Hawking died. Stephen said, “We are very, very small, but we are profoundly capable of very, very big things.” “The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.” “I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.” “When something is made idiot proof, they will just make better idiots.” “I don’t fear God, I fear his believers.” “What I have learned from life is to make the most of what you have got.” “Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world’s population.” You wouldn’t think Stephen Hawking was a comedian of sorts until you read his quotes. Many are funny. Enough. Abide.
