Key West Lou / BORN ON A TABLE

This day in 1874. Winston Churchill was born on a table. Yes, a table. Not a very big one either. In a cloak room.

Churchill’s heavily pregnant mother was dancing at a ball. Contractions began. No time to take her anywhere. Not even to an upstairs bedroom.

She was rushed into a nearby cloak room and placed on a table. In a very short time, Winston was born.

Churchill was asked later in life about the circumstances of his birth. He replied with a smile: “Although present on that occasion, I have no clear recollection of the event leading up to it.”

Recall Nate “King” Cole’s 1961 hit whose opening lines went: “I was walking along minding by business, when love came along and hit me in the eye.”

Several years earlier on this day 1954, Elizabeth Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama, was lying on her couch in her living room sleeping when…..flash, bam, alakazam…..a meteorite crashed through her roof, into the living room, bounced off a radio, and struck Elizabeth on the hip.

The meteorite weighed 8.5 pounds and was 7 inches long.

Fortunately, Elizabeth suffered only bruises to her hip and leg.

Elizabeth’s meteorite was the first in modern history of a person being injured or killed by a falling meteorite.

Today is the last day of the hurricane season. Sigh a breath of relief!

There were a few that caused damage to the north of Key West. However Key West itself was fortunate.

Do not think a hurricane cannot yet hit. It has happened in past years when the season has ended. Hurricanes don’t seem to be aware when the season is over.

I can recall one some 20 years ago. Hit 4-5 days after the end of the season. I had a party planned for the night before. Food, alcohol, flowers, etc. all ordered. I said what the hell, lets go ahead. The storm will not be here till tomorrow.

Two hundred were invited. Big party! One hundred fifty showed up. The fifty who did not attend were smart. They got out of Dodge before the trouble arrived.

Everyone had a good time!

Recall the saying…..the calm before the storm. True! The night of the party the weather was perfect. No wind or rain. Water not moving.

When I got up the next morning, things were starting to stir. I told my then wife and daughter Lisa we were getting out. Key West Airport had been closed for several days. I called Miami and was able to get 3 reservations for a 7 am flight the next morning.

The drive to Miami was bumper to bumper. Took 10-12 hours to get there. Both lanes of U.S. 1 were “out only.”

We were fortunate also to get reservations at the Miami Airport hotel for the night.

Staying with weather for the moment, Key West weather turns tonight. It will get cold!

Thunderstorms predicted for the day. High temperature 79. However, it will fall to 67 during the night.

Those not familiar with Key West will laugh when I say it will be cold. We who live here all year long have thin blood. We get cold easily. Seventy four is the dividing line.

Means a heavy blanket and maybe heat tonight. Long pants tomorrow as the high will only be 69.

I am not complaining. Merely sharing. Though rarely, it is not always sun, shorts and beaches.

A bit of coronavirus.

Dr. Fauci said Thanksgiving could lead to “a surge superimposed upon that surge that we’re already in.”

People disregarded warnings from the experts to not travel, have family group dinners, etc.

It is going to happen again just as it did following Memorial Day. In 2-4 weeks, the numbers are going to shoot up.

We Americans are a spoiled lot. We do not want to sacrifice anything. Such is why the numbers are so high and continue rising.

America’s greatest lawyer! Rudy Giuliani! Says who?

Giuliani told a reporter over the weekend that the “goo” dropping from his head were “brains.” He has a sense of humor.

Trump attorney team members said Giuliani’s bid to overturn the election was “deranged.” They also described pushing election fraud cases in court as a “clown car.” Finally, Giuliani was ill suited to litigating Trump’s cases.

The automobile industry changed this day in 1965 and the lives of many Americans have been saved as a result.

Ralph Nader published “Unsafe At Any Speed: The Designed In Dangers Of The American Automobile.” Safety became paramount as a result.

Within one year, there was a new law: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Only 4 states mandated safety belts. Within one year that number rose to 49. New Hampshire the hold out.

Syracuse has only one football game left. Next saturday against #2 Notre Dame. Doubt my team will win.

This past saturday Syracuse lost a close one to North Carolina State 36-29.

Syracuse’s record similar to Giuliani’s. Both have only one victory.

Enjoy your day!

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