It’s a Saturday. Everyday feels this like a Saturday when you are retired. Being able to retire is the icing on a life well lived cake. I am grateful for my good fortune. Every day I appreciate my circumstance. The 23rd day of January 2021 is National Pie Day (how good is that?), Measure Your Feet Day (?), National Handwriting Day, National Rhubarb Pie Day and Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day when snowplow drivers get to take out as many mailboxes as they can. I’m going with Pie. Probably won’t be rhubarb, although rhubarb makes an excellent filling. Now to the history of this date. On this day in 971 War elephant corps of the Southern Han defeated at Shao by crossbow fire from Song Dynasty troops. War elephant corps? Wow. On this day in 1556 the Shaanxi Earthquake, the deadliest ever recorded, kills 830,000 in China. In 1793 Humane Society of Philadelphia (1st aid society) is organized. In 1812, a 7.8 earthquake shakes New Madrid, Missouri. In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell becomes 1st woman in the US to earn a medical degree. She said “It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.” In 1855 the first bridge over the Mississippi River opens in what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota. On this day in 1870, 173 Blackfoot (140 women & children) are killed in Montana by US Army. Finally, in 1957 Wham-O Company produces the 1st Frisbee disc (originally called the “Pluto Platter” until 1958). This date is the birthday (1937) of John Hancock who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. If you recall, his signature is the largest one on the document. He said “There, I guess King George will be able to read that without his spectacles!” This is also the date in 2004 that Bob Keeshan, better known as Captain Kangaroo died. Bob said, “Generosity has built America. When we fail to invest in children, we have to pay the cost.” I agree. Now I’m going to figure out how to get a nice slice of pie today. Abide.
