Why Celebrate Today? July 5, 2011

What a great Independence Day weekend!

–          Concerts; check.

–          Parades; check.

–          Baseball; check.

–          Fireworks; check.

–          Funnel cake; check.

–          A moment to ponder…check.

• I hear people speak of being “proud” to be an American and I’m glad for them. But I think my feelings run closer to being grateful. After all, I did nothing to become an American. That was simply my great good luck and the work of my parents. I am profoundly grateful for that good luck and I hope I do something to earn it and I hope I do nothing to tarnish it. That is absolutely worth celebrating today, or for a three-day weekend, or for the rest our days.

But TODAY is July the 5^th!

 It’s a big day for baseball (and what day isn’t?). Goose Gossage was born in 1951 and in 1947, Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.

 It’s the birthday of P. T. Barnum (1810), Jean Cocteau (1889) and Edie Falco (1963).

Spam was introduced on this day in 1937.

The “Cocktail 4 2day”, however is for Sir Isaac Newton. On this day in 1687 his “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica” was published, which makes me ponder…apples!

Let’s toast Sir Isaac today with a Woodchuck Granny Smith Hard Cider.

Cheers,

Roger.