Today is a day of Presidential news my Gentle Readers. First up are the inaugurations of two of our most well known Presidents.

Thanks to Whitehouse.gov for the images.

Both were inaugurated on this day with Lincoln in 1861 and FDR in 1933. Neither of them would have been possible without our government beginning to function under the Constitution on this date in 1789. In 1913, Woodrow Wilson would give his first Inaugural address. Future President Ronald Reagan also married his wife, Nancy, on this day in 1952. The two met when he was president of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG). Nancy Davis, an actress in her own right, was trying to clear up the confusion between herself and another Nancy Davis, who was on the McCarthy Communist Sympathizer list.

From Presidential Actors to a tragedy of Tinseltown. Hollywood lost one of the greats on this day in 1994, John Candy was found dead on in Durango Mexico where he was filming his latest production in a career that included a favorite of mine, Spaceballs. That was such an incredible movie, and I fear he never knew just how great he was as he has been quoted as saying, “I don’t watch my movies. I just get too critical of myself.” The large, funny man will forever live on for me as the one and only Mawg, half-man half-dog. I truly hope he was his own best friend.

In 1952, Ernest Hemingway finished “The Old Man and the Sea”. He wrote a letter to his publisher saying he had finished the book, stating it was the best writing he had ever done. Critics agreed, granting it the Pullitzer Prize in 1953. If only I could drink as he did and produce the quality of work that he did.

Well, today was a day of triumph and a day of sadness Gentle Readers. Until next time. Live well, write well, be well.