June 16

Today is the birthday of Idris Shah (16 June, 1924–23 November, 1996), a Sufi writer who helped educate the non-Sufi about the peaceful ways of Sufi Islam. He also published several volumes of tales about Mulla Nasrudin, the Wise Fool who helps us find inner wisdom by turning things upside down. Rumi and Hafez are the most well-known Sufis in the West. A group of Sufis migrated, either voluntarily or not, over 800 years ago from East Africa to India. They adopted many Indian customs and incorporated their art and music into their own but otherwise did not intermarry and kept many African customs. A group called Sidi Goma just finished touring the US giving concerts in parks and elsewhere. I was privileged to see them in Saint Paul recently. Beautiful.

Today is Youth Day in South Africa which commemorates a student uprising in Soweto in 1976.

Psycho premiered today in 1960. It was shown on TV several years later and thanks to a derelict babysitter I was able to see it at a tender age. Years later I happened to catch Psycho II in the theatre and was finally relieved of all fears. That last 15 minutes was hilarious.

Bloomsday today. Of course you've read the book. Thanks to Sylvia Beach for getting it published. If you're ever on the coast of Oregon (Newport) there's a great hotel called the Sylvia Beach. Today might be a big day there.

First Ladies Day in baseball, 1883. Escorted and unescorted ladies were free. I assume they mean the ticket price.

Birth anniversary of John Griffin (1920) who wrote Black Like Me which was a very influential book for me. I remember it was on the bookshelf growing up.

Most importantly it is the 19th anniversary of our wedding (1990). Note to future husbands: it's helpful to get married in a round year so you can always figure the number of years married quickly and correctly.