We’ve now entered the time/space of February 21, 2020. Tomorrow we will look back at today, determine if anything that happened is worth a memory and move on. Will Rodgers said, “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today”. For me yesterday was good. Most of mine are. I’m lucky and I know it. I’m taking Will’s advice and I’ve let yesterday go. Today is National Grain Free Day, National Care Givers Day, Women’s Heart Day and National Sticky Bun Day. None of these work for me so I’ll stick with National Pie Month. Onto the history of this date. In 1764 John Wilkes is thrown out of English House of Commons for his “Essay on Women”. Some context is required. John Wilkes was a populist politician. He pushed for more power for the people. He wrote a poem which was slightly pornographic for the time and got kicked out of Parliament for it. You can search for the poem and read it although it’s a bit difficult to understand. In 1842 the 1st known sewing machine patented in US by John Greenough. In 1848 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish “The Communist Manifesto” in London. In 1853 the US authorizes minting of $3 gold pieces. The gold in that coin is worth $237.17 today. In 1885 on this date, the Washington Monument dedicated. In 1902 Dr Harvey Cushing, the 1st US brain surgeon, performs his 1st brain operation. Finally, on this date in 1965 Malcolm X is shot dead at Audubon Ballroom in New York City. This is Alan Rickman’s birthday (1946). You probably don’t know him by name but you do by sight. He played in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Die Hard and Harry Potter to name a few. He said,”I am the character you are not supposed to like.” This is also the date in 1974 that Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player and co-founder of Tim Hortons, dies in a car crash at 44. I didn’t know who Tim Horton was. Now I do. That’s enough trivia for this day. Now go enjoy what is left of it and be sure to Abide.
