Today was the last day of my youngest daughter’s softball season. The weather was beautiful, and between the game, swimming and party, I am finally getting a moment to write a few thoughts before heading off to bed.

Today is Juneteenth, and there have been various celebrations around Connecticut and beyond. Today, if something big happens, you get the message almost instantaneously. Years ago, this was not the case. On September 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued an executive order declaring freedom to all slaves in any of the Confederate States. Word travelled slowly, especially during the Civil War, and it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865, that the message made it to Galveston, Texas. Since that day, Juneteenth has been a special day to celebrate emancipation.

Then, in 1909, Sonora Dodd came up with a new idea as she listened to a Mother’s Day sermon. She wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart was a widowed Civil War Veteran who raised Sonora and her five siblings. With that, the first Father’s day came into being, on June 19th, 1910.

The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers didn’t come for another 56 years when President Johnson designated the third Sunday in Jun as Father’s day. Then, in 1972, President Nixon signed a law that made it permanent.

This year, Father’s day will happen on the 20th. The next day, the earth reaches its northern most tilt towards the sun.

With all of this, there will be many opportunities to celebrate, so my writing may be a little sparse. Happy Juneteenth, Father’s Day and Summer Solstice.