Fortune always favors the brave, and never helps a man who does not help himself.
American businessman, and co-founder of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, P. T. Barnum, was born on this day in 1810 (died 1891).
I miss the circus.
But, truth be told, I hadn’t been in years, so I suppose I have a small part in the downfall. But, when they removed the elephants (a sad, but correct move), could the demise of the circus be that far behind?
One of my all-time favorite movies is The Greatest Show on Earth, Best Picture winner of 1952. It’s one of those Hollywood epic films that stars just about everyone on the MGM lot and tells the story of the circus.
This December, Hugh Jackman will take on the role of P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman, a musical that celebrates Barnum’s life and vision.
I never wanted to join the circus. Truth is, my childhood memories of a circus are few and far between. We didn’t
have many circus troupes traveling through our small Southwest Virginia town. And I never got the chance to go the Big City to see the Ringling Brothers. In fact, I didn’t see that circus until we moved to Richmond and started taking our son…at great expense…to the Richmond Coliseum.
This is not a post about the circus.
I’m not sure it’s bravery but, as I have now reached a certain age (next year’s the big one), I know that some things aren’t going to be done if I don’t get up off my more-than-ample fanny and get to work.
So, here goes.
I’ve set a new weight loss goal. I’ll tell you what it is when, not if, I reach it.
I’m moving ahead with the script. I had a read-thru with a friend yesterday, and I’m scheduled to do an official read-thru with fellow playwrights in September. There’s work to do.
I’ve got an art/design project that I’m working on. It will be available for your pre-holiday purchase some time around Labor Day.
I’ve made some progress and some reevaluations with the yard.
Why am I telling you this?
It’s because I believe there’s a certain power, or at least a certain accountability, in speaking these things. I do not have a huge following or readership here on the blog (that’s another story and we’ll be talking about that later). But many of you are good friends and loyal readers, even when I’m talking gibberish.
So, stating what my plans are, what my goals are, puts me on a spot to actually get up and get it done.
Don’t just wish that things will happen. Make your goals. State them out loud, early and often. Then get busy.
So let it be written. So let it be done.
FIVE THINGS FOR YOUR WEDNESDAY
America isn’t a normal country
Michael Gerson in The Washington Post
There is so much dehumanization in our politics, and the main role of the Declaration is humanization. Its ideals are desperately needed and roundly ignored.
North Korea missile launch marks a direct challenge to Trump administration
The Washington Post
The missile — launched Tuesday in North Korea, late Monday in the United States — flew higher and remained in the air longer than previous attempts, enough to reach all of Alaska, experts said. They called it a major milestone for North Korea’s weapons program.
We Should Celebrate Our Imperfect Union
Andrew Hull at Bearing Drift
My humble contention would be that it is entirely possible to love the United States of America while acknowledging that we as a country run by inherently flawed human beings have erred in the past and will continue to do so.
Historians Uncover Slave Quarters of Sally Hemings at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
NBC News
Archaeologists have excavated an area of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello mansion that has astounded even the most experienced social scientists: The living quarters of Sally Hemings, the enslaved woman who, historians believe, gave birth to six of Jefferson’s children.
Talking To Your Pets And Naming Your Car Are Signs Of Intelligence (According To Science)
Educate Inspire Change
Turns out, naming your plant and car, or chatting to your kitty like he’s a fully fledged human, is a sign of intelligence.
Finally, on this day in 1954, Elvis Presley recorded “That’s All Right” his first single at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
LOVE all of this.