May 3rd, Friday

Posted-onBy lineBylineVirginia

It’s not Sunday, but it is Sun Day. An author, crooner, and activist share a birthday. Plus, one of my personal favorite poems.

The date is May 3rd, Friday, and today I’m coming to you from Lima, Peru.

On this day in 1978, the USA celebrated Sun Day, led by President Jimmy Carter. Jackson Browne performed in concert on the DC Mall and Robert Redford gave a speech in New York City at the UN Plaza. Redford reminded the audience that the sun “can’t be embargoed by any foreign nation.” Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the lawn of the White House during his presidency, but President Reagan took them out when he moved in.

Today is the birthday of Dodie Smith, author and creator of The One Hundred and One Dalmatiansand the evil villain, Cruella De Vil. Smith herself had a Dalmatian named Pongo and when a friend commented that Pongo would make a great fur coat, the idea for the story was born.

Dodie’s most famous book is certainly The One Hundred and One Dalmatians, though she wrote a number of other novels, plays, memoirs, and even screenplays.

Today is the birthday of Bing Crosby, born Harry Lillis Crosby in 1903. As a kid Crosby was a big fan of the local Spokane comic strip “The Bingville Bugle.” A friend started calling him “Bingo from Bingville” and over time the nickname got shortened to just “Bing.”

While “White Christmas” might be what Crosby is remembered for, he also had a hand in revolutionizing the radio industry in post-WWII America. After a number of years in radio, Bing wanted to start pre-recording his shows for broadcast. When his network NBC wouldn’t allow it, he left for the newly formed ABC. Bing had recently been rated by WWII troops as the person who had done the most for morale, beating out President Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. ABC, therefore, gave him a long leash.

Pre-recording not only allowed Crosby to cut out errors, but also keep ad-libs, jokes, and songs that received the most approbation from the audience. In addition, pre-recording allowed Crosby to only have to do each installment of his show once. At the time, it was common practice to do multiple live broadcasts of the same show to capture listeners in all timezones.

Pre-recording allowed Bing to clear up his schedule considerably and enjoy more golf, of which he was quite fond.

And today is the birthday of Septima Clark, noted by Martin Luther King, Jr. as “The Mother of the Movement.” Highly educated herself, she turned down more lucrative teaching positions after a few years in order to run workshops at the Highlander Folk School. Workshops included literacy classes to prepare African-Americans for the Jim-Crow literacy test required for voting. Rosa Parks was an attendee of some of the workshops during Septima’s tenure as director.

 

When I Heard at the Close of the Day
Walt Whitman

When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d,   
And else when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy,   
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,   
When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy,   
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish’d me more, and the beautiful day pass’d well,   
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend,
And that night, while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,   
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night,   
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,   
And his arm lay lightly around my breast—and that night I was happy.

Wishing you a good morning, a better day, and a lovely weekend!