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Encyclopædia Britannica notes that on this day in the year 1958, Pres. Ike signed the legislation that created the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Sure, it more or less existed before that as a defense group but now we were going to beat the Russians publicly.
Darn that Sputnik!
Just to show that these messages from EB are almost always odd, the birthday for today is for Il Duce, 20th century Europe's first fascist dictator, having "assumed" absolute power of Italy in 1922. American conservatives loved the little fascist. Really. Hearst ran adoring editorials on Mussolini, even cartoons extolling his virtues by the masterful Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland). "Mussolini rose up from nothing to be master of his destiny! You can, too!"
And, of course, NASA was staffed by unrepentant Nazis.
So it goes.
Hopefully I'll not have to wear a tuxedo again to a wedding until my daughter (who is not quite one) marries. I've just finished with standing up for my sister-in-law's German husband for their church wedding here in the states. Whew! That was hard work!
I'm not complaining, you know. I count him as a friend and not just a relation by marriages, so I was proud to step up and stand. For a long time. If we had had communion perhaps we in the wedding party would have been able to sit.
I know that I've been a professional public speaker but I find doing toasts unnerving. L and I both did them (she was the matron of honor for her sister) and although the audience seemed to enjoy them both (L did the better job) I've always had to leave the reception for an extended period of time in order to get myself ready. Maybe I try to do too much in them.
But next time, I'd love to just come to your wedding and not have to do anything! Probably just a result of having Stinky these days. She's a great baby and was a wonderful flower girl but she then left me with four hours of sleep last night.