Exact Sad Anniversaries

It is noteworthy that 3 anniversaries all of sad events in the next month or so will be “exact” anniversaries. That is to say on the same day of the week as they occurred.

It was exactly 33 years ago that one of the great clutch hitters of modern times, Thurman Munson died in a plane crash. It was Thursday August 2, 1979 and now August 2nd some 33 years later falls on a Thursday.

Speaking of plane crashes, the events of Tuesday September 11th, 2001 will come into sharper focus this year, perhaps, as September 11th falls on a Tuesday for the 2nd time since 2001.

Finally in our trio of “exact” and sad anniversaries this Sunday August 5th is the 50th anniversary of the death of screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Ms. Monroe died in the early hours of Sunday August 5, 1962.

A year before Marilyn Monroe’s death, a pair of Yankees known as the M and M boys, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris combined to hit 115 home runs. A year later, “M.M.” was dead and now exact anniversaries of the passing of two M’s, Marilyn Monroe and Mr. Munson, (both died in their 30’s) is noted. The world is not what it should be and who knows what will happen next? Yet thinking of these 2 people and those lost on September 11, 2001, one needs to appreciate time on this angst ridden planet and also try to help and care for others. More doing, helping, and appreciation of what one has and that will yield less angst.