Aloha, My Friend
Yyyyaaaayyy, nnnn, what’s up Doc?
To which you reply, “July First Friday, of course.”
Let’s also not forget some of the other July anniversary dates. You know what folks, with just July as a mile marker, our own personal history is full of interesting steps:
July 1st, 1966 – The ZIP Code was instituted
July 3rd, 1971 – Jim Morrison died
July 10th, 1964 – The Beatles released Hard Day’s Night
July 20, 1969, 10:56pm – Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon
July 30th, 1975 – Jimmy Hoffa disappeared ( You should see the Jack Nickelson movie – HOFFA)
Other big dates:
July 2nd, 1937 – Amelia Earhart disappeared in the Pacific. (You should listen to Joni Mitchell’s song titled, Amelia. It is one of my favorite of Joni’s)
July 6th, 1885 – Louis Pasteur treated a child with the first anti-rabies vaccine. And almost 125 years later he saved my sweet Lanie’s life after she was attacked by a rabid bobcat here in Tallahassee.
July 7th, 1898 – The US annexed Hawaii
July 15th, 1881 – Pat Garrett shot & killed Billy the Kid. The Kid was just 21 years old.
July 17th, 1821 – Spain cedes Florida to the US
July 22nd, 1934 – John Dillinger was shot & killed by FBI Agent Melvin Purvis. (I am looking forward to the Johnny Depp movie)
July 27th, 1940 – Bugs Bunny debuted.
The beautiful hula dancer on my Hawaiian calendar is confidently looking into the camera while in her pose as if to say, “Can we talk a moment here?”
Noting the Hawaiian annexation earlier it is probably important to her that I mention that there is a strong and legitimate Hawaiian sovereignty movement among the native islanders. One of the organizations has a very clever name, ALOHA – Aboriginal Lands of Hawaiian Ancestry. After quite a few years of American businessmen shenanigans, over the stanch protests of Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii was annexed. In 1993 President Bill Clinton, by way of a Public Law, offered an apology to the Hawaiian people. It is sort of fitting that the sweetest voice of the Hawaiian Rights Movement was honored with a huge funeral on July 10th, 1997, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Bruddah Iz. He is most famous for his soft and tender cover of the song, Somewhere “Over the Rainbow.” He was also very vocal about native recognition and Hawaiian pride and in several of his beautiful songs he beseeches his listeners to appreciate the Hawaiian culture and its rich history.
Since First Friday will probably be over by the time that you read this let me jump ahead to what is happen for Second Sunday. On July 12th Railroad Square will be hosting the LOT – Locally Owned Tallahassee – members to set up and display their whatevers and introduce themselves to you. There will be dozens of your local business owners out here anxious to let you know why Tallahassee is sassy. Come on out from noon until 5-pm for the little box people like BALI -HI.