Today is the 9th day of September 2023. My calendar is empty. Nothing on my to-do list. I’ve turned my attitude positive (on-off switch). I may write a poem or a song, play my ukulele, read a book, and/or play some pool. Maybe I’ll sit on the patio and stare at a small patch of my lawn and see what lives there. I’ll do my best to enjoy this once in my lifetime day. I can also celebrate Aunt’s Day, Farmer’s Consumer Awareness Day, International Buy a Priest a Beer Day, National Iguana Awareness Day, National Steak Au Poivre Day, and Wonderful Weirdoes Day. Since I am ordained as a Priest of the Church of the Latter- Day Dude, guess which I’d like to celebrate? Moving on. On this day in the year 1000 the Battle of Svolder was fought by King Olaf on his boat ‘the Long Serpent’. When he realized the battle was lost, he stepped off the boat in full armor rather than being taken captive. On this day in 1543 Mary Stuart was crowned the ‘Queen of Scots’ at the age of 9 months. On this day in 1570 Nicosia, Cyprus fell to the Ottomans who massacred an estimated 20,000 people and sold the rest into slavery. On this day in 1904 mounted police are first seen in NYC. On this day in 1942 the 1st bombing on US soil happened at Mount Emily, Oregon by Japanese planes. This is the day in 1956 that Elvis Presley appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the 1st time. I remember it. My father had finally purchased our first black and white TV. Today’s dead person is the Greek philosopher Heraclitus who said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” “The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become.” “Those who are awake all live in the same world. Those who are asleep live in their own worlds.” “Stupidity is better kept a secret than displayed.” I’ll make that the last one. Abide.
