Forever – is composed of Nows –
‘Tis not a different time –
Except for Infiniteness –
And Latitude of Home –
 
From this – experienced Here –
Remove the Dates – to These –
Let Months dissolve in further Months –
And Years – exhale in Years –
 
Without Debate – or Pause –
Or Celebrated Days –
No different Our Years would be
From Anno Dominies –
—Emily Dickinson, “Forever – is composed of Nows,”a portion of which is seen in her handwriting, above.

Emily Dickinson died 130 years ago today.

* * * *
The Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 13–1 at Yankees Stadium 75 years ago today. Joe DiMaggio hit a single in the bottom of the first inning, which drove in Phil Rizzuto with the Yankees’ only run of the game. It was DiMaggio’s only hit, but for the next couple months, he did not go hitless in a game. DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak began 75 years ago today.

* * * *
Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernadino, California, on this date in 1940. They put their family name on it: McDonald’s. It mostly sold barbecue and was staffed with carhops. The building no longer stands, but the restaurant chain still bears the family name.

* * * *
“You were the one who made it so clear / All those years ago.” George Harrison’s single “All Those Years Ago” was released in the United Kingdom 35 years ago today.

 
The song was originally written to be sung by Ringo Starr and was recorded before John Lennon was murdered. Harrison rewrote the lyrics to reflect his shock and pain about the murder and affection for his friend and then re-recorded the song himself. Starr’s drumming was retained, and Paul and Linda McCartney accepted an invitation to sing backup; the song remained the only collaboration among the three living Beatles until the Anthology project in the mid-1990s.

* * * *
Ronald Lacey died 25 years ago today.

* * * *
“I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones.”—L. Frank Baum.

L. Frank Baum was born on this date in 1856.

* * * *
Katherine Anne Porter was born in 1890 on this date. Clifton Fadiman was born on this date in 1904. Joseph Cotten was born on this date in 1905. James Mason was born on this date in 1909. Richard Avedon was born in 1923 on this date. Anthony Shaffer was born on this date in 1926.

* * * *
Sir Peter Shaffer, Anthony’s brother, is 90. Jasper Johns is 86 today. Anna Maria Alberghetti is 80. Wavy Gravy is 80. Ralph Steadman is 80 today. An interview with Ralph Steadman:

 
Madeleine Albright is 79. Lainie Kazan is 76. Brian Eno is 68. Nicholas Hammond is 66. Chazz Palminteri is 64. George Brett is 63. Dan Patrick is 60. Emmitt Smith is 47. Holly McPeak is 47.

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