Running On Empty
“Just Thinking"
Sometimes when I sit down to think, there’s just… nothing. I’ll find myself staring off into space, like I’m looking into a big black hole, trying to grab onto a thought that just isn’t there. On those days, when I’m digging for a topic for my “just thinking,” I come up empty.
So, I start running through the basics, things I’ve done, places I’ve been, people I know. If that doesn’t spark anything, I dig a little deeper, flipping through the mental file cabinet of movies, TV shows, actors, songs, and bands. By that point I’m really reaching and still nothing. That’s when the panic starts to creep in… what now?
Then I circle back to something that’s worked for me before, history.
Did you know that on May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was officially dedicated? The whole idea behind it actually came out of a rivalry between Walter Chrysler of Chrysler Corporation and John Jakob Raskob of General Motors, basically a race to see who could build the tallest skyscraper. Chrysler was already well underway with the Chrysler Building, a 1,046-foot tower in midtown Manhattan. Not wanting to come in second, Raskob pulled together a group of major investors and got his project moving.
The Empire State Building was built in just over a year, came in under budget at around $40 million, and was finished ahead of schedule. At certain points, they were putting up as much as four-and-a-half stories a week. When it was completed, the building stood at 102 stories and 1,250 feet tall, 1,454 feet including the antenna, making it the tallest skyscraper in the world, a title it held until the World Trade Center was completed in 1972.
On May 2, 1945, German forces in Italy officially surrendered to the Allies, while at the same time Berlin fell to the Russians. Nearly one million German soldiers laid down their arms as the terms of the unconditional surrender. That same day, The Soviets accepted the surrender of Berlin.
On May 3, 1933, James Brown was born in Augusta, Georgia. Known as the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” he became one of the most influential and electrifying figures in music history. Over the years, he earned countless nicknames, Soul Brother #1, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite and Sex Machine, all reflecting his energy, style, and impact on music. Born in 1933, he built a lasting legacy that carried through generations before his passing on Christmas Day in 2006.
On May 4, 1970, in Kent, Ohio, a group of National Guardsmen opened fire on anti-war protesters at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others. The incident shocked the nation and became a turning point during an already deeply divided time over the Vietnam War.
On May 5, 1961, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space. The suborbital flight, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere.
On May 6, 1931, Willie Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and personally my boyhood idol and my favorite player, hands down. Known as “The Say Hey Kid,” he had it all, power, speed, and defensive brilliance, a true five-tool player. Over his career with both the New York and San Francisco Giants, Mays put up incredible numbers, including 660 career home runs, and made unforgettable plays, most notably that iconic over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series.
On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine off the southern coast of Ireland. In just about 20 minutes, the ship sank into the Celtic Sea. Of the 1,959 passengers and crew on board, 1,198 lost their lives, including 128 Americans.
On May 8, 1945, Great Britain, the United States, and Allied nations around the world celebrated Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Cities across the U.S., the U.K., and Western Europe, along with the Soviet Union, Canada, and Australia, erupted in celebration.
Also, on May 8th, Auntie Debbie celebrates her birthday, Happy Birthday Auntie Deb!
When all else fails, history comes through, there are plenty of hallmark moments packed into that first week of May.
And speaking of Hallmark, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. We truly owe everything to our mothers. This year is especially tough, as it’s our first Mother’s Day without Mom. She’s missed more than words can say every single day. God bless all our moms.
Let me know what you think.
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