This is as good a day for some history highlights, those archival side-swipes that have nowhere else to go, but here.
All of the following events are factual and happened on this date, June 13.
1325 — A man name Ibn Battuta began his journey. He left his home in Tangier, Morocco, which is right at the bottom of Spain, and traveled to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He was gone from his home and family for 24 years.
I had to check on a few things. The distance is about 6,299 kilometers, which is equal to 3,920 miles. It was expected, back then, that it would take old Ibn Battuta sixteen months to complete the round trip. He went because he was eager to learn more about far-away lands and craved adventure.
No one knew that he would not return to Morocco for those twenty-four years. I’m not sure why it took so long, but the history book says this: “Little did he know that this journey would be perhaps the most epic adventure in history.”
I’d never heard of him before today, so I’m not quite sure how “epic” it was.
1777 — Marquis de Lafayette landed in the United States. They had a little picture of him next to this listing. He was a white guy with one of those white, powdery wigs. For some reason, I continue to picture his as a black man ever since I saw the play, Hamilton. I think he should look like Daveed Diggs. Exactly like Daveed Diggs.
1789 — Since we are speaking of Hamilton. On this date, Mrs. Alexander Hamilton served ice cream for dessert to Washington. I’m not sure why this merited a historical note, and it certainly never made it into the Broadway musical. I guess George liked his ice cream. Probably easy to chew, poor guy.
1854 — Anthony Faas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, patented the first United States accordion. He made improvements to both the keyboard and to sound enhancement. He was granted Patent No. 11,062. Now, I’m not sure what the accordion sounded like before the enhancements, but I think Faas could have worked a little harder, if you ask me. While I love when a spontaneous Polka breaks out, there’s something about the accordion that gives me the willies. Some people are deathly afraid of clowns. For me, it’s the accordion and the smiley guys playing them.
1866 — The United States House of Representatives passed the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights Amendment. Good for them. Good for us. Now, if we could just get it right.
1900 — In China — Baron von Kettler, the German minister to China — beat two young Boxers with his walking stick. When word of this circulated, rioting broke out, and arson spread throughout Peking during the night.
Now here’s the thing. The Boxers. Were they two dogs? Were they two guys fighting in the ring, Rocky? Or were they the Boxers of the Boxer Rebellion, the anti-Christian, anti-Imperialist group? I hope they weren’t the dogs, or I’m going to start rioting too. They were in Peking. Our dog Ollie is part of Pekingnese. This came too close to home.
1930 — Hailstones killed 22 people in Siatista, Greece. Apparently, those people didn’t have a roof to put over their heads.
1948 — Babe Ruth gave his final farewell at Yankee Stadium. He died on August 16, just three months later, of cancer.
1970 — The Beatles’ “Long & Winding Road” single went number one and stayed there for two weeks.
From then to now. All of this history, a long and winding road.
Just ask Ibn Battuta.
=========
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
― Heraclitus
========
“The only journey is the one within.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
========
“…there ain’t no journey what don’t change you some.”
― David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
========
It’s a road. It is long. And winding.
