Friday

Aug. 1, 1997

Happy Endings

by Shirley Kaufman

FRIDAY 8/1

Today's Reading:"Happy Endings" by Shirley Kaufman from ROOTS IN THE AIR, published by Copper Canyon Press (1996).

Today is Lughnasadh, an early Gaelic holiday, also called August Eve, marking the first harvest.

The Birmingham Heritage Festival celebrating African culture begins today in Birmingham, Alabama.

The National Czech Festival begins today in Wilber, Nebraska.

The Maui Onion Festival starts today in Kaanapali on the island of Maui.

The 18th annual Steinbeck Festival starts today in Salinas, California.

It's the birthday today of writer Madison Smartt Bell (WAITING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD), born in Nashville, in 1957.

Writer and musician Jim Carroll (LIVING AT THE MOVIES; THE BASKETBALL DIARIES), was born on this day in New York City, in 1951.

The Warsaw Uprising began on this day in 1944, when the Polish resistance opened thousands of windows and began shooting German soldiers in the streets, a rebellions quashed by the Nazis two months later.

San Francisco's first cable cars began running on this day in 1873 as the Hallidie's Clay Street Hill Railroad Company began operation.

It's the birthday of writer Herman Melville (BILLY BUDD; MOBY DICK), born in New York City, in 1819.

It's the birthday of attorney and social worker Francis Scott Key, author of the poem 'The Star Spangled Banner," born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1779.

The founder of the Boston Public Library, George Ticknor, was born on this day in Boston, in 1791.

William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, was born on this day in Caroline County, Virginia, in 1770.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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