Veterans' Day

At “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918 the Armistice ending World War I was signed. The cease-fire took effect five hours later.

Yesterday was Martin Luther's 538th birthday (1483). And Sesame Street first aired on PBS, November 10, 1969. A belated happy 52nd birthday BigBird, Oscar and Kermit who are no doubt joining us today, as we contemplate and recognize with gratitude the gifts of those who serve, have served, and who may serve our democratic republic.

And in the mailbox (I just got around to it this morning) a note from Pema: Life’s work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into the circle wake you up rather than put you to sleep. The only way to do this is to open, be curious, and develop some sense of sympathy for everything that comes along, to get to know its nature and let it teach you what it will. It’s going to stick around until you learn your lesson, at any rate. —Pema Chödrön from Shambhala’s online Heart Advice, Quote of the Week.