"Please Mark Your Calendars..."

It’s Sunday afternoon and I don’t have much to do so I decided I needed to do the world a great service. Well, perhaps not the world, but at least a service to all you my faithful readers (that’s right…both of you).

Certain dates in history have gone down as memorable and have been celebrated, mourned, or remembered each year those dates pass.

For example, who of us can ever forget the date: December 7, 1941? Of course we all know that as the day when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese which vaulted the U.S. into the Second World War. You may also recall that President Roosevelt spoke to the nation and in his speech he said, “December 7, 1941 is a date that will go down in infamy…” Even then they realized that particular date was going to be remembered for generations.

On the same theme, who can forget June 6, 1944? Everyone instantly recalls that date as the date when the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy (France for all those who didn’t pay attention in either History class or Geography) and took the fight to the Germans! The Allied forces lost many brave men that day and June 6 is still remembered as, “D-Day”.

Other dates we remember because of great national tragedy. April 14, 1865 is the date that President Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater. November 22, 1963 was the date when President Kennedy was gunned down as his motorcade slowly snaked its way down the streets of Dallas.

Or October 24, 1929 we still remember as “Black Thursday” because of the sudden plummet our stock market took. History tells us that so many lost all their savings and means of financial support that men jumped from windows killing themselves instantly on the streets below.

Most of the dates I listed above are dates of sorrow. But I want you to mark on your calendar a date of great rejoicing and celebration for the world!

Take your pen and mark the date, June 22, 1968 (not that the year matters, but thought you’d want it for perspective sake).

June 22 is a date where a great many things have taken place. Allow me to name just a few. All the following things took place on June 22.

In 1772 slavery was abolished in England. In 1775 the first Continental Congress issued its first currency ($3,000,000 in case you were curious). In 1808, Zebulon Pike reaches his peak which we now call, “Pikes Peak”.

Perhaps you remember the great San Francisco fire? That’s right…June 22, 1851.

Besides the event I will mention later, perhaps the greatest event to occur on June 22 was in 1847 when the doughnut was created! If nothing else had ever occurred on that date, we should still celebrate the day for this singular great event!

Are you a sports fan? In 1930, Lou Gehrig hits 3 home runs in a game, Babe Ruth hits 3 in doubleheader. In 1937, Joe Louis KOs James Braddock for the heavyweight boxing crown. One year later, Joe Louis KOs Max Schmeling at 2:04 of 1st round at Yankee Stadium. In 1959, the most Phillies strike out in a game (16 by Sandy Koufax).

Sports not your thing? How about music? In 1961 on June 22, the Beatles record Aint She Sweet, Cry for a Shadow, When the Saints Go Marching In, Why, Nobody's Child & My Bonnie, in Hamburg.

But, alas, June 22 will also be remembered for yet another sad event. On that date in 1990, Florida passes a law banning “thongs” on public beaches.

But a history lesson is not the purpose of this post. The reason for this post is to tell you of a great even that occurred on that date, and that is the birth of someone considered by some (not many) to be a great person!

Many great people were born on June 22. Here is a brief list:

1903 Carl Hubbell pitcher (NY Giants)-253 wins, 2.97 lifetime ERA
1903 John Dillinger one of America's Most Wanted

1920 Paul Frees Chicago Ill, animation voice (Bullwinkle)

1922 Bill Blass Ft Wayne Ind, fashion designer (Nancy Reagan)
1928 Orson Bean Burlington Vt, comedian (I Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth)

1933 Dianne Feinstein (Mayor-D-SF)
1936 Kris Kristofferson singer/actor (Amerika, Millenium)
1941 Ed Bradley Phila, CBS news correspondant (60 Minutes)

1947 David L Lander Bkln NY, actor (Squiggy-Laverne & Shirley)
1947 Don Henley drummer/singer (Eagles, Boys of Summer)

1948 "Pistol" Pete Maravich NBA star (Atlanta Hawks)

1949 Lindsay Wagner LA Ca, actress (Bionic Woman, Paper Chase, Nighthawks)
1949 Meryl Streep NJ, actress (French Lieutenant's Woman, Sophie's Choice)

All of these people were born on June 22. But again, none of these are the person to which I referred. No, perhaps the greatest event to take place on June 22 took place in 1968 when a young Virginia gave birth to her newborn son and called his name, “David”.

That’s right, yours truly was born on June 22, 1968!

Have you marked your calendar yet?

It occurred to me (a lot has occurred to me in this single post I just noticed) that many of you would like to purchase me a gift! And why shouldn’t you? And some (names omitted to protect the innocent) have even asked what I’d like. So following are some gift giving ideas for you. If you purchase one of these gifts, please let me know so I can update our readership so I don’t receive two of the same item. You can imagine the embarrassment!

The greatest gift I could receive, at the moment, would be a 2006 Harley “Fat Boy” which you can either purchase from your local Harley dealership or by going to http://www.harley.com. Of course, I’ll need some extra chrome options, saddle bags, and a few other “perks” that I will send to you if you’re interested. Not to worry, even though this is number 1 on my list, it’s relatively cheap at a mere $27,000.00 or so depending on what extra’s you’re wanting to spring for.

Second to the Harley would be a Ferrari FXX. A super mean and sleek Ferrari if I do say so myself. Now, this is a bit more pricey but I’m sure if you all went in together, price would be no obstacle. I believe it to be a bargain at $665,000.00 don’t you? And yes, that’s American dollars not Euro’s so no worries!

Third, if you can’t afford the Harley or the Ferrari, would be the new 2006 Shelby Mustang GT-500. It packs an incredible powerful 550 horses under it’s sleek body. I couldn’t find a price for this vehicle as it’s not on the market yet but I would imagine it will be around $50,000.00. But worth every penny.

You may have noticed, all things on my wish list are vehicles. That just didn’t seem right. So, considering my passion for golf, I thought I’d throw in a package of golf for you. And it’s very reasonable too!

Round trip ticket to St. Andrews, the birth place of golf, to play on the “Old Course” in Scotland. But I will also require a set of Mizuno irons (I will give you the specifics when you call) an new Nike Ignite driver, an Odyssey putter, 3 wedges (not wedgies) and a Taylor Made 3 wood. That package will only run you around $8,000.00 By far the best bargain on my list!

I’m glad I could help you with these gift giving ideas. I can’t wait until June 22 (one more time in case you’ve yet to mark your calendar) to drive my new Ferrari or Harley depending on the weather to play golf with my new golf clubs! Won’t that be a grand day?

If you can’t afford any of these gifts, eat a doughnut on the 22nd and think of me! Actually, you will probably think of me every time you eat a doughnut from this point forward!

But don’t blame me when you get fat!